Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You're getting into debate, Mr. Weston, and this is debate, and Ms. Sims is free to.... It's true I expect members of the government are being provoked as a result of comments, and that's her absolute right to do that. If she wants to say comments that are contrary to what the government may say, she has the absolute right to do that. I don't like it because I want to keep some order.

And you may continue, Ms. Sims.

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

Thank you very much.

As I was saying earlier, Mr. Chair it's very difficult to be debating on putting the question without referring to the amendment itself, though I will say that I will try to keep the substantive arguments on the main portion of the recommendation that's before us, because I am on another speakers list. I really do appreciate the leeway that you are providing right now in order for us to continue this debate.

We are here debating this for a reason. There isn't a person around this table that just wants to carry on talking for the sake of it. We are here to look at the processes that are being used. We are using the tools that are there before us, a parliamentary tool that is there before us, and that is, to be able to speak at committee to amendments and the main motions until we have exhausted ourselves. Certainly, I do know that I intend to continue to do that.

It is therefore my argument that it would be very, very difficult for a question to be put on this at this stage. I would say it would be at any stage, because of the rules that operate for committee, which is that every member has a right to speak as many times as they want and for as long as they want. Despite the existence of those rules, the chair has been put in a position to carry on with this charade. Now that we are in this debate, I will say this. The parliamentarians here have a responsibility because they did not have a chance to speak to this amendment. I would say that the majority of us have not. I will say that it becomes really critical that the question not be put, because if the question were put at this stage, it would actually take away that right from me. More than that, it actually has a substantive impact.

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

A point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Before the point of order, Ms. Sims, you are getting into repetition. You've said what you're saying right now a number of times. If you continue, I'm going to move on to the next speaker.

Mr. Dykstra, on a point of order.

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

That was my point of order. I've heard that point three times now from the same speaker.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay, Ms. Sims, you still have the floor, but I caution you that we will move on to the next speaker if you continue to repeat.

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

Thank you very much.

With that new ruling—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

It's not a new ruling, I've been making it all morning.

Madam Groguhé, you have the floor—

Ms. Sitsabaiesan has the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Right now, we are debating whether we go to the….

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

Point of order.

What is happening here? Does Ms. Sitsabaiesan have a point of order or is she just reading out of the book? I thought we were on points of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

No, we're into a debate on whether the question should be put.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. Sitsabaiesan, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[An hon. member]

She already spoke.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

She can speak again, Mr. Menegakis.

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

I can speak as many times as I wish and for as long as I wish, according to the rules of this place.

Mr. Chair, I'm certainly perplexed that we are debating right now the previous question because as far as I know, the previous question is not admissible in committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. Sitsabaiesan, this has already been ruled on. We're not debating on whether it's in or out of order. The question is, do you support or not support whether the question should be put?

I raised this a number of times when you were speaking before. I'm going to move on if you keep getting into other areas.

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

Mr. Chair, I'm not really voting. I'm just pointing out that I'm perplexed that we are debating something which shouldn't even be happening in committee. I am not in favour of the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you.

Ms. Freeman, you have the floor.

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

Chair, I have not had the opportunity to debate the matter on which we are now being asked to put the question, the motion to which—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Point of order, Mr. Dykstra.

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

Ms. Freeman's made this argument already. In fact, she challenged the chair—

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

On that point.

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

—on this matter and it was defeated.

She challenged, her challenge was not successful, and she was asked to move on. Now she gets the floor again, and she is repeating the exact same argument.