Yes.
Evidence of meeting #148 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #148 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
We've just witnessed a horrific act of terror in Christchurch, and the member keeps using this extremely inflammatory language. He knows what he's doing, and he needs to use the right and proper terminology, until such time as someone is determined not to be an asylum seeker. That is not the right language to use. It's meant to inflame; it's meant to divide.
Today of all days, he should not be doing it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I'm going to suggest that's a point of debate as opposed to a point of order.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I'd like to speak on that point, Mr. Chair.
There was a fairly big insinuation—
Conservative
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I have a question of privilege. I would argue that what was just said was almost to the point of slander. My question of privilege is related to decorum, Mr. Chair. That is a valid question of privilege under O'Brien and Bosc.
Liberal
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
It's a point of order on decorum, Mr. Chair.
O'Brien and Bosc speaks to the fact that we are, as members, to maintain decorum at all times.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chair, what was just suggested I think is what leads to rhetoric around immigration in this country being negative. It is perfectly valid to question the government on its processes related to immigration. The reality is that there are 40,000 people who have illegally entered Canada. There are large signs at the border that say it is illegal to cross the border, and then they claim asylum in Canada.
Minister Blair has been out today apparently talking about the fact that now they are talking to the United States about whether that would continue to be acceptable, under this government, with the American administration. He is actually talking about that policy.
To conflate the discussion of this policy and the terminology with a mosque shooting in New Zealand does speak to the decorum in this committee.
I want to be very clear: What happened in Christchurch, New Zealand, was a horrific act of murder and terror—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I'm going to ask the member to cease.
This is now debate; it is not a question of privilege. I'm ruling on that and then you may challenge the chair.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
It is a process of debate.
That is my ruling as the chair. I'm happy to read again the role of the chair, if you would like me to. I'm ruling this as a—
Conservative
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
It's actually under O'Brien and Bosc. I can raise a point of order on decorum.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I would like to finish. I will be very brief. I want to be very clear that I believe this was an act of terrorism and murder and that should be denounced. There's no justification for it.
However, my colleague here—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
As the clerk has advised me, I have already ruled that there was a point of order raised that I have ruled as a point of debate. You are raising the same issue. I will equally say that it is debate.