Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Point of order, Ms. Sitsabaiesan.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

If we need to go back and read the blues, we can, but the challenge of the chair that Ms. Freeman made was that the chair had ruled that the amendment was out of order, and not that she had not yet had an opportunity to speak to the amendment that she is trying to debate.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I will say, Ms. Freeman, that I'm going to allow you to continue, but you have said a number of times that you haven't had an opportunity to debate. That point has been made. I would like to hear your next point.

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

Respectfully, Chair, I believe I have not actually said anything more than that because I have been cut off by various members of this committee.

As a result, I would like to explain that point. My duties as an elected member of this House required me to not be present at the moment this motion was brought forward. There was an ability for me to speak to the subamendment when I did return to the committee at one point, but I was once again required to leave because of my duties. As a result, I was never presented with the opportunity, though I sought it, to speak to this amendment.

I apologize if I am speaking to events that happened last week.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Point of order, Mr. Menegakis.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the member had someone replace her while she was not here. She had every opportunity to speak through the person replacing her.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm going to let her go on, Mr. Menegakis. You may or may not be right, but I'm going to let her continue.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Again, as I tried to indicate the last time I was speaking but got cut off, it was not for this amendment on which the question is being put that the person was delegated to sit in my place while I went away; it was for the subamendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'd like to know your contribution to debate on whether or not the question should be put, Ms. Freeman.

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

Chair, as a member of Parliament who sits on this committee, I was here throughout the time during which the committee would normally sit but I could not always be here while the committee was sitting outside its normal hours, given that I have obligations as a member of Parliament to represent my constituents in other aspects of the House's work. I could not be here at all times, and as a result, I was not able to debate this motion.

I am not talking about the subamendment. I am talking about the amendment itself, which was moved on Thursday afternoon by my colleague, Ms. Sitsabaiesan, the amendment on which the question is now being put.

Chair, I believe this is an argument unique to me, because not only was I not able to speak to it, but also I was not available during the times when the committee was being called, because those times were outside our normal committee hours—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I will hear Ms. James on a point of order.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I have to say that availability should not be an excuse on this committee. I have other obligations as a member of Parliament elected duly by the constituents of my great riding of Scarborough Centre, and when I find that something is as important as this particular bill, I will make sure that I am here.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I agree.

You have one more chance, Ms. Freeman, and then it's three strikes and you're out.

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

Chair, I believe that because we are outside of normal committee meetings, it is absolutely within my right to argue that I was able to leave and come back and, as a member of the committee, I am absolutely able to request and argue against—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I've heard enough.

There are no more speakers. I'm going to call the vote with respect to the previous question.

All those in favour—

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

I call for a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

It is a recorded vote on the previous question.

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

Don't we have a speakers list?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes. We have concluded it and are now having a vote.

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

No, I was on the speakers list again.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

No, you weren't.

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

I raised my hand, and she put my name on—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm sorry, you weren't on the speakers list.

We're going to vote, and we're going to have a recorded vote, and the clerk is going to call it.

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

Read the question.