Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you very much, Chair.

The issue before the committee, as I understand it—and it's my first time here on this issue, and the first time, I think, on this committee at all, actually—is the request for a 30-day extension. The purpose of the extension is to allow an expansion of the scope of the bill. That's my understanding of what's before us.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

A point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

A point of order, Mr. Dykstra.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

It's great to have Mr. Christopherson here. He's a good guy and he and I go back a long way, too, but I think he probably knows why we're here and we certainly don't need to hear it again. He's filling in for someone, and I understand that. If he's prepared to enter some new arguments, he's presenting for the first time—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Well, they're new to me.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

—to committee here....

Now he's interrupting me as he claims I do to him, but I'll keep going.

If he would like to offer anything new on this side of the House—

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

On a point of order, Chair.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

—we're happy to hear it, but we don't need to hear reiterated what we already know we're here for.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

On the same point of order, Mr. Harris.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I understand Mr. Dykstra's interest in prolonging debate and interjecting from time to time, but it's rather premature. All I heard Mr. Christopherson say was that he understood that the purpose of the extension was to seek to expand the scope of the bill. So he's making a reference to why the extension is being sought.

I know there's a certain amount going on, with trying to narrow anything anybody might say to very specific words, but surely Mr. Dykstra should have some patience and allow Mr. Christopherson to let the committee know what he wants to say before he jumps in with a point of order. I'd be happy to debate a point of order when one arises.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Christopherson, I will be patient. If you're going in the same direction that Mr. Dykstra has suggested, we have gone over that. You can continue. I will be patient and I know you'll get to your point soon.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair, I appreciate that.

Yes, I would acknowledge the history of Mr. Dykstra, especially in the context of Canada, as we're practically neighbours—Hamilton and St. Catharines.

I think I was just attempting to warm up to the subject to make sure I was clear. I understand this may have been said before, but not by me, and that's the purpose of committee: you have a right to come in and say your bit. That's why we're elected.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Actually, you don't, Mr. Christopherson. I have made a ruling throughout and I'm not going to repeat it. It's your obligation to be informed about my rulings. If points have been made and speeches have been made in debate by other members, you can't do it again.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

If I may say, Chair, with the greatest of respect, by that theory, one member of any caucus, on any bill, could walk into a committee room and make all the arguments that his or her caucus wanted to make, and then what would be the point of anyone else being there because they had never heard such a ruling?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

That's my ruling.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Well, I understand that, and I'm suggesting to you that you're denying me my rights.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Well, you can suggest that and you can challenge me, but I've already ruled on that and I'm not going to do it again.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I understand that you've been here for a long time at this committee, but I have just arrived and I still have some rights.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Proceed. Proceed. Proceed. Proceed.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Even if you're going to deny them, there's a procedure to do that, too.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm going to move on, Mr. Christopherson.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

I will challenge the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm going to move on, Mr. Christopherson

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I haven't repeated anything. I haven't finished doing the introduction.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

All you're doing is arguing with the chair and I'm not going to let you do that. I'm going to move on, if all you want to do is argue with me.