Evidence of meeting #36 for International Trade 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Dennis Seebach  Director, Administration and Technology Services, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Marc Toupin  Procedural Clerk
Mary McMahon  Senior Counsel, Legal Services Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Michael Solursh  Counsel, Trade Law Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Cindy Negus  Manager, Legislative Policy Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency
Paul Robertson  Director General, North America Trade Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

No, Mr. Julian, I have ruled on this. I believe you've gone to a vote on the ruling already. It was upheld by the committee. Let's move ahead.

You're taking your time now; the clock is going.

You have an amendment you would like to move, NDP-3. If you would like to do that, go ahead, Mr. Julian. If you don't want to, that's fine, we can move on to the next one.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, I'd be delighted to move the amendment, believe me.

I'm not delighted with the rules of order that you're imposing on us, to say the least.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

It's the will of the committee, Mr. Julian, and you understand that very clearly.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

I disagree profoundly, Mr. Chair, and will be expressing that throughout the day.

This is no little clause, when we talk about clause 6, because in effect this is a clause that fundamentally changes how we talk about arm's-length dealing. As a result, I would like to move that the committee limit of three minutes for debate on this clause be waived for clause 6.

That's a motion that is in order, Mr. Chair.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Of course, Mr. Julian, you've moved your amendment already. You can't make a subamendment to your own amendment.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

I did not move the amendment, Mr. Chair. If you check the blues, I did not move the amendment. I did speak to the importance of clause 6, which was a preamble for the motion.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Mr. Julian, if you're not speaking to your amendment, then we'll get on to someone who—

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, the motion to waive the three-minute time limit is perfectly in order, as the head table knows.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Mr. Julian, what exactly is your motion? Please simply state that again.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

That for the consideration of clause 6, we waive the three-minute time limit.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Let's handle this. Is there unanimous consent to do this?

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

No, no, Mr. Chair, it's a motion.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Then the ruling of the chair is that in fact there is no unanimous consent. Let's go on. It would require unanimous consent, I believe, to have—

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

It does not require unanimous consent.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Do you want to move your motion, Mr. Julian? We're getting on to that now.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

It is a motion de fond. It has been submitted. It is now time to debate that motion. The motion is, for the requirements and discussion around clause 6, to waive the three-minute time limit. It is a perfectly valid motion, as the head table can attest.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

No, Mr. Julian. In fact, the committee has ruled on this issue. We have limited debate to three minutes. If the committee wishes to extend, I believe it would require unanimous consent. Certainly, that was not the intent of the committee.

Mr. Julian, you are now either going to move your motion or we'll go to the vote on clause 6. It's entirely up to you. The clock is ticking here.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

The head table can rule that this motion is in order, and you know that this motion is in order. So rather than spending this time with verbal jousting, why don't you simply allow me to then speak to the motion to waive that time limit, the three minutes, for the consideration of clause 6?

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Are you finished your discussion on the amendment, Mr. Julian?

10 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

I have not moved the amendment yet, Mr. Chair. I have moved the motion. I am asking for the head table—

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Mr. Julian, you are testing the patience of the chair. You will move your amendment and debate it or we will assume that you do not wish to move that amendment. One or the other. The time is ticking here, Mr. Julian.

10 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, the head table should be providing a ruling on this.

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Mr. Julian, as I've said, in terms of the issue of your motion, there are two ways that that motion can carry forward. The committee has made its intentions very clear here—three minutes' debate on a motion. There are two ways: unanimous consent or the committee can rescind. There is no indication that either is going to happen. So, please, Mr. Julian, go to your amendment or we will vote on the motion and you will not have spoken to your amendment. Are you going to move your amendment, NDP-3?

10 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, I request unanimous consent then.

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Is there unanimous consent?