Justice Committee on May 28th, 2019

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I will ask you to rule that out of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Guys, what I will do is I'm going to allow Mr. Suri to respond. I certainly don't agree with the comments made, but at the same point in time, this is Mr. Cooper's time.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

It's unfair to put Mr. Suri in that position. That is unfair—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I challenge the chair.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

—to put Mr. Suri in a position to have to defend himself in front of the—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

On a point of order, I challenge the ruling—

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

It's unacceptable.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

—of the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

There's no ruling here right now.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

You can't put Mr. Suri in that position. That's unfair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

There's no ruling here right now. There's nothing to challenge. I haven't made a ruling.

I didn't agree with the comments made by Mr. Cooper. I'm sure Mr. Suri doesn't agree with the comments and I see that all the other members don't agree with the comments. I think Mr. Suri has a right to respond, if he wishes to respond.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I think that's unacceptable. You're putting—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

The whole comment's out of order.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

—him in a position of vulnerability to have to respond to these attacks. Quite frankly, that's unacceptable. He didn't come here today to defend himself. He came here to present on behalf of his organization.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

I understand—

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

It is unfair, Mr. Chair, if you attempt to have him respond and legitimize what has been said. I will call for us to go in camera immediately. I think I'll have support from my colleagues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

I don't think there's a question of legitimizing it at all.

I think, again, members have their time to make their comments. I don't agree with Mr. Cooper's comments, but this is part of his time.

I am going to ask, and I will give time for Mr. Suri to respond—

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Mr. Chair, I move that we go in camera.

[An hon. member]

On a point of order—

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

The explanation you have provided really provides little comfort. You are saying that a member can say anything they'd like to say. That is completely unacceptable.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I put a motion on the floor that we go in camera, please, to have this conversation. I'm not comfortable putting our witnesses in this very difficult position of listening to this disagreement that we're having.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I second the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

That's fair.

There's a motion to go in camera. All those in favour?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

We're going to move in camera, with apologies to everyone.

We're going to ask everyone who is not part of the committee to leave the room for a very brief period of time. We will have you come back in as soon as possible.

[Proceedings continue in camera]