I agree with you, Mr. Chairperson.
That's what we're getting to when we talk about a consensus versus a majority in terms of looking for support for the chair. You have a way as the chair to seek guidance from a committee. Generally speaking, the chairperson will get a sense of the direction the committee would like to be able to go. Based on that direction and using the standing orders and committee proceedings, using traditions and things that have happened in the past, a chairperson will try to facilitate the business of the committee by ensuring that all members are afforded, for example, the opportunity to be able to speak; that all members are being respectfully listened to in the form of decorum; also that individual's rights are in fact being protected within the committee.
Here, it has been pointed out by Rathika, we have a rule that says that at the end of the day, members should be able to speak. It's virtually endless at the committee stage. It's a well-established rule, Mr. Chairperson. You have made the fair ruling in terms of your position as chairperson after you were challenged by the government that the question be put. But it's the consequence of these rulings that need to be talked about. We need to realize that there's a bit of frustration that has been occurring over the last period of time that has ultimately driven the government to challenge your ruling.
What was your ruling? Your ruling was to allow for debate to be able to continue. Then Mr. Dykstra, on behalf of the government, feeling frustrated, asked that the question now be put. By doing that, Mr. Chairperson, Mr. Dykstra knows that he has a majority of the members on the committee. Mr. Dykstra knows what the typical process is at a committee meeting. He understands and he appreciates the rule that Rathika read off, a rule that was read last week. It is very clear. We have a government member who is very much aware of the rules. What he has done is he has challenged—