Mr. Chairman, I know that you are a man of honour and that you believe in this institution. You know full well that all of the members here have tried very hard to ensure that this committee works well. When I challenged your ruling and called for a vote, you left the Chair, in a move that you have yet to explain. If you look to the clerk, you will see that the Standing Orders state that this is not debatable; you must immediately call the question on a ruling that has been challenged. In the interests of ensuring that the committee runs smoothly, I would ask that you respect this rule.
You know full well, Mr. Chairman, that the steering committee discussed the fact that the House has given us an important mandate. Our colleague, Mr. LeBlanc, wanted us to meet on Wednesday. He had the support of the Bloc Québécois. You cannot rewrite the Standing Orders.
This is the third time that this has happened in a committee under conservative chairmanship. Your colleagues did the same at House Affairs and in the Standing Committee on Official Languages. You did not want to abide by the Standing Orders because you knew that you would have had to have a vote. Instead, you chose to leave the Chair and paralyze the committee. The time will come when you will have to explain yourself.
I want you to take a recorded vote immediately. I am calling for a recorded vote on your decision to rule out of order... You had your rationale for doing so, I appreciate that, but the Standing Orders provide that I am entitled to challenge your decision. You can check with the clerk, it is not debatable. All of the experienced members on this committee know that it happens automatically. Perhaps the clerk would nod to show that I am right. You have to call the question straight away on a ruling that has been challenged.
I want a recorded vote. It is in the Standing Orders.