Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

All right, we're going to move on to Madam Groguhé.

It's your turn.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to come back to the issue of putting the amendment to a vote. Clearly, I am against that, Mr. Chair. When we are talking about an amendment, a subamendment or a motion, it is important that enough time be given to the members of the committee to debate them and put forward their arguments on these matters.

Of course, I would also like to point out...

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

On a point of order, Mr. Dykstra.

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

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, Ms. Groguhé is making the exact same argument that Ms. Sims made. I don't mind if she has something new to add to it. I tried to listen intently to what Ms. Sims said. She conjectured and had me thinking we were going to have an argument, so I wasn't quite sure if she had a point of order.

Ms. Groguhé is saying the exact same things that Ms. Sims said, Mr. Chair.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Order, please.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I would like indication from the Chair as to whether I have—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay. I have Ms. Freeman first.

You know what I am about to say, and if it's on this additional point, we could go on and on.

Madame Groguhé, the rules are quite clear. You can't just carry on and start repeating arguments that have been made by other members of this committee. I just moved on from Ms. Sims, and you're carrying on from what she said.

Mr. Dykstra is perfectly correct in his point of order. You can't carry on and start repeating what other members have said, and if you do, I'm going to move on.

You have the floor, Madame Groguhé.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chair, our debates have been going on for a few days but despite that I think there has been considerable confusion in our exchanges. You yourself have been the cause of some confusion, since we went from a vote on an amendment to a vote on...

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay, I'm going to move on.

I don't care what happened last week. I care about what's happening now. You're not talking about the question on whether or not....

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

No, no—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Madame Groguhé, do you see what this is? This is called a gavel. When I speak, you have to wait until I've finished speaking.

You can put your hand down now. I'm simply saying that the issue before us is whether or not the question will be put, not what went on last week. Please, do not repeat what others have said. If you have new points to make, the committee would be pleased to hear them.

You have the floor, Madame Groguhé.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chair, I was not at all referring to the debates or statements that were made last week. I was talking about the confusion here on the issue of voting on the said amendment, and the clarifications I asked for about the vote on the amendment from Ms....

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

On a point of order, Mr. Opitz.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, that's not exactly accurate.

Ms. Groguhé also talked about the debates that were held previously—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

That's debate, Mr. Opitz. It's not—

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

No, no. My point is this. She had ample opportunity to make that point for nine hours before the—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

That's debate, Mr. Opitz. You'll have to wait until your turn, Mr. Opitz.

Madame Groguhé, you have the floor.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chair, since we have to talk about something else than what Ms. Sims talked about, I will come back to the vote on the amendment. There has been so much confusion. Mr. Chair, be that as it may, I also want to share with you my frustration with regard to the lack of clarifications; I asked for some, and did not get any, regarding the vote on the amendment. I think it is useful to us, if not indispensable, as parliamentarians, even if the chair...

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

The issue is: should the question be put, yes or no?

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

I am getting to my point, Mr. Chair.

Concerning this vote, if you want a yes or no answer, obviously I will not be in favour of this vote.

I will reiterate my request. I would like to get a clarification on a matter of procedure, Mr. Chair. My privileges as a member entitle me to ask you to be more precise, and as clear as possible, regarding a vote or a debate on a motion or an amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you, Madame Groguhé.

Ms. Sitsabaiesan has the floor.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, on the subject before us of whether the question on the amendment should be put or not, I believe the question should not be put at this time. The members of this committee have not had the opportunity to actually contribute to the debate—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

That has already been said, Ms. Sitsabaiesan. Those comments have been made by Ms. Sims and by Madam Groguhé.