International Trade Committee on Nov. 7th, 2006

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, this is a question of the committee's credibility and this is a question of credibility beyond some members' comfort level. Obviously this is flawed legislation, and obviously it required some responsible approaches to how it was being addressed. What we are seeing--

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Are you speaking to the amendment to the motion? Get to it quickly then, because I haven't heard that.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

What we are doing is enforcing how a parliamentarian should vote. This is something that is, again, without precedent in Canadian parliamentary history. This committee has been meeting now for seven hours. For a bill of this nature, we should be taking 20 to 25 hours. That's how most committees deal with complex legislation.

Instead, what we've seen from the Conservatives and the Liberals is a cutting back, a slicing and dicing of time, so we have no serious consideration of any of these motions. Now we have an enforced vote. The enforced vote is an abstention. You're absolutely forced to it. This is without precedent and it violates parliamentary procedure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Time is up, Mr. Julian. We will now go to the vote on the amendment to the motion.

The amendment is “and if no individual vote is cast, the member shall be deemed to have abstained.”

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, could I have the subamendment in writing, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

We have it right here, Mr. Julian. So let's go to the vote on the amendment to the motion.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Yes, Mr. Chair, I'm considering the vote.

Mr. Chair, I indicated to you I was considering the vote, and I vote no.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 9; nays 1)

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Now, on the motion as amended, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'd like to offer an amendment to the subamendment that has just been offered: “unless the member indicates otherwise.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Can you read that proposed amendment, Mr. Julian?

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

It would read, “and if no individual vote is cast, the member shall be deemed to have abstained unless the member indicates otherwise.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

That's out of order, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

That's very clearly in order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Let's go to the vote on the motion.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I challenge your decision on this. It's inappropriate.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

We will go to a vote that the ruling of the chair be sustained.

(Chair's ruling sustained: yeas 10; nays 1)

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, that was on sustaining the chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The ruling is upheld, yes.

Oh my gosh, were we still on that one?

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

After a wait like that, I'd forgotten we were there.

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

That's quite all right, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to help you along.

On the motion itself, I'd like to move the following--

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

We're going now to the vote on the motion.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, on the motion itself, I'd like to move the following--

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I've already called the question.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, I had very clearly indicated--