I actually find these comments offensive.
I have the right as a member of Parliament, as do all of my colleagues from every party, to make comments in committee on amendments as I choose to make them. I don't believe that any other member here has the right to tell me, “I don't think what you're saying is succinct enough, MP Findlay. I don't think what you're saying is the way I would say it.”
I'm not aware of any such rules. My understanding of the standing committee rules is that we have the opportunity to make comment on these amendments as we go forward, clause by clause. Sometimes our comments are just commentary. Sometimes they're hoping to persuade other members of the committee to see things the way we see them. That is our right. That is our right as parliamentarians, to make ourselves heard.
Sometimes you make an intervention and maybe you think after the fact, “Oh, I should have mentioned that.” Well, you have the right to put your hand back up and finish those thoughts.
I am not aware that there is any rule that says you, Madam Chair, or any other member of this committee, can say that I only have the right to put my hand up again if I have some specific point, and that I must do it in a succinct way so that someone else on this committee decides how succinct I am. That is ridiculous. That is not the way that committee is to proceed. That's not the way that debate proceeds.
If we want to do this in an efficient but also effective manner, we should let people make their points on each of the amendments as they arise to the extent that they wish to. Otherwise, we're going to be sitting here all night, with me saying, “I don't like the way that person said this”, “I don't like the way that person said that” and “I have a comment on whether I think they used the most efficient language.” That is not sustainable, Madam Chair.
Thank you.