Evidence of meeting #84 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
On another point of order, the fear that I have, Mr. Chairperson, is that you are narrowing the scope to the degree that there might only be 25 words in the English vocabulary that we could actually use without being ruled of order. That concerns me greatly.
I think you need to acknowledge that there is a need for parliamentarians to be able to articulate what we are being asked to vote on. To not allow us the opportunity to express how, and justify why, we are voting a certain way is denying us a privilege, I believe, Mr. Chair.
I would ask that you confer with the clerk's office to indicate whether or not a member of Parliament has the right to explain and justify at this stage why we want or do not want to support legislation.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Mr. Lamoureux, I've made my ruling, and you're quite free to challenge that ruling. If you don't want to challenge that ruling, I'd like to continue with the debate.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Ms. Sitsabaiesan is challenging the ruling of the chair. The ruling of the chair is that the issue before us—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
The issue that is before us is strictly that the only relevant matters before us are comments one way or the other whether the committee should ask the House to grant an extension of 30 sitting days with respect to Bill C-425.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
I'd like a recorded vote please, Mr. Chair, whenever we get to that point.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay.
Shall the ruling of the chair be sustained? All those in favour?
A recorded vote, Madam Clerk.
NDP
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
You have indeed, Ms. Sitsabaiesan.
(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5)
We're back to you, Mr. Lamoureux. You have the floor.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
I have another point of order, Mr. Chairperson.
Because I am relatively new at this, my question for you is what opportunities do I have as a member of Parliament if I feel that my rights to express or justify voting one way or another are not being properly addressed?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm simply saying that I want a debate on this issue. It may be that I'm not properly understanding your point of order, but you have every right to give reasons why you're for or against this committee asking the House to make that decision.
I will say that your comments have to be in order and they have to be relevant, and they cannot be repeated.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Okay, good.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll continue on. I want to pick up on your—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Before that, we seem to have some people wanting to talk about this some more.
Mr. Opitz.
Conservative
Ted Opitz Conservative Etobicoke Centre, ON
On the same point of order, the honourable member said last week when he was occupying your chair that he's been a parliamentarian for 20 years and understands the process better than most. So to say that he's new at this isn't exactly accurate.
It could be, Mr. Chair, that he's just latching onto concepts and running with those, which I find redundant and just—
Conservative
