Evidence of meeting #61 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I've understood the question, and I've understood the answers you gave earlier. I respect them, but I do not share them.
However, we have two motions before us. I ask that the orders of the day be amended so that we study these two motions now, the first introduced by Ms. Neville from the Liberal Party, and the second, which I introduced on behalf of the Bloc québécois.
Mr. Chairman, I ask that we consider these two motions immediately.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Thank you.
Is there any further discussion on the motion by Madam Neville?
Mr. Blaney, please.
Liberal
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to speak to the motion. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.
It seems to me that it is of the highest importance at this time that we pursue the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. We received a unanimous mandate from the House to review this bill and to refer it back to it. That responsibility was accepted by all parties, and our committee has a responsibility to refer this bill back to it, amended, if necessary, unanimously or by a vote.
Among other things, I remember that Mr. Lemay said, on February 7, that he especially wanted this bill to be studied quickly by the committee. Unfortunately, we have been unable to do so.
Conservative
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Yes, I have a point of order.
Mr. Chairman, you've made a ruling. Do we agree to amend the agenda and to study Ms. Neville's motion? That's the question. Then we'll discuss the merits of Ms. Neville's motion, as my colleague Mr. Blaney has just tried to do. Mr. Chairman, I believe we must first debate the question whether we agree to amend the agenda and to study Ms. Neville's motion on a priority basis. That's the issue.
Bloc
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
So would the committee members stay on that topic, please?
I'm going to move on to Madam Crowder—
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
—and then I'll go back to the government side. I'll finish with Madam Neville.
Madam Crowder.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to support Monsieur Lemay's comments. I think it's important to remind the committee that there are a couple of procedural steps here, as I understand them. One is that you called the meeting based on some requests from at least four members--although we only have proof of three--and the meeting has now convened. The second stage in that process is to determine the business at hand before the committee.
I am supporting Madam Neville's motion to reorder the agenda. That is the decision the committee can rightfully take in terms of determining what business at hand it will deal with.
So I will be supporting that motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Thank you.
Speaking to that, we'll go to....
Mr. Blaney, you had an opportunity. Have you finished?
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
I will just wrap up.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak. I feel that what Mr. Lemay said did not constitute a point of order. I want to say that I think it is important at this time to stick to the agenda and to review this important bill clause by clause—let me finish, Mr. Lemay—so that, in September, at the start—
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Chairman, I have a point of order. You said I was right; you said I was right to raise a point of order, and you let Mr. Blaney speak. I think we have to interrupt him. I call for a vote on the motion.
Conservative
Conservative
