Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2024

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, how many seconds do I have from Mr. Cooper's opening statement?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Well—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

It's a very simple question. Just answer it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

As I said at the beginning, the time of the answer should be as close as possible to the length of the question. I've been giving a bit of leeway here, but I want to keep it as close as possible.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Schmale, to Mr. Cooper's first—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

We'll give you—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I haven't been able to answer his first question because he has interrupted me three times, so can I answer his first question?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Well, he took the floor back, so I guess—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'm ready to answer his first question.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

The time is yours. However, usually you answer the question he just asked you.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'll answer the question. In the recent court case against Mr. Anderson, it is clear that Mr. Anderson has been using my name without consent. I'm not involved in those other conversations—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

My question to you was whether you had commenced a legal action, and you have, through your non-answer, said that you haven't, so, Mr. Boissonnault—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

We are working on the legal—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

I'm reclaiming my time, Mr. Chair.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair—

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

We have two points of order. I don't know who was first, Mr. Drouin or Mr. Carr.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

It is running interference.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

No, Mr. Cooper, you're running interference.

I thought the rule was that if there's editorializing on a particular issue, then the witness has the same amount of time to answer the question, but that's not—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

No.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

There's the preamble, and there's the question.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

On the same point of order—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Hang on. I have Mr. Carr and—

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Hold on a second. I'm not done.

For the respect of the interpreters, Mr. Cooper keeps interrupting the witness. I get that he doesn't want to ask questions and just wants to editorialize on certain issues and make false claims here, but at the end of the day, Mr. Boissonnault has offered his time to be here, which is unprecedented. I've love to have Andrew Scheer here about his fake insurance claim—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You don't have to give him the time.