Evidence of meeting #97 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was contract.
A recording is available from Parliament.
November 21st, 2023 / 6:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I can't until the speakers list is exhausted, so if you have no comments, Mr. Masse, I'll move to Mr. Vis.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll just clarify a few points, and then I believe it is in order to go to a vote as well.
First off, I'm going to put this on the record.
Mr. Turnbull stated earlier that we were making comments that were xenophobic in nature. Those weren't his exact words, but he did use the word “xenophobia”. I'm going to put on the record that if he.... We all take partisan angles at this committee, but if he is going to go down that path, here is my word: I vow to make his job as hard as possible as a parliamentary secretary, and I'm putting that on the public record.
You have no reason to do that. I said in the very beginning of this meeting that the Conservatives did, in fact, sign a free trade agreement with labour mobility provisions in the contract. You obviously weren't listening to the debate earlier on. That was never in question. It's very insulting that you did that. You turned around and tried to make it better in the end, so thank you, but don't personalize the debate here.
Mr. Chair, we cannot personalize the debate in the way that the parliamentary secretary did today. We work very well on this committee, but I am stating as a fact, on behalf of my constituents, that if he starts doing that, it's not going to be easy for him to get the things done that he wants to get done. It was so inappropriate.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
On a point of order, Chair, I feel that the member threatened me, and that cannot happen at committee. No matter what I say, I have the freedom of expression in this committee as a member of Parliament, and if I want to say you're xenophobic, I can say you're xenophobic.
I didn't say that. I said there's a xenophobic tone. That's exactly what I said. I didn't call you xenophobic, but it doesn't matter. I'm allowed to say what I want to say, and you're not allowed to threaten members of Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Order, please.
Mr. Turnbull, first of all, it's not true that you have the right to say whatever you want in committee, any more than any other MP. There is a level of decorum to be observed here, and I will not tolerate personal attacks from either side.
Secondly, Mr. Vis, I would encourage you to be very careful about what you say. It's true that it was almost a threat. I won't tolerate that kind of threat in committee either. We're all capable of doing a lot better than what I'm hearing right now. I'd like us to take a deep breath and return to more civil discourse and appropriate decorum on both sides.
Now, if there are no further interventions, I think we're finally ready to proceed to the vote on the amendment proposed by Mr. Turnbull.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas, 6; nays, 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
We now turn to the main motion, which has been amended several times.
Are there any other comments or amendments? If not, we'll proceed to the vote on the amended motion
I'm looking around the room. I'm seeing none. That's the best moment of the meeting.
If there are no more comments, we can vote on the motion as amended. It's clear to everyone where we stand right now on this motion, given all the amendments that we have.
Do we need a vote at this point, or is there consensus to adopt the motion as amended?
We have consensus.
(Motion as amended agreed to: [See Minutes of Proceedings])
I thank you all. I hope we have a more peaceful meeting at the next meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.
I thank the interpreters, clerks and support staff.
Have a good day, everyone.