Madam Chair, I rise on a point of order. I appreciate the discussion that has been undertaken here. However, as a duly elected member and as somebody who subbed in at this committee to participate in an important discussion, I would suggest that removing my ability to intervene on the speaking list comes awfully close to a violation of a member's privilege.
I'll leave that for the moment.
On the point of order, I am a little bit concerned on this issue that is larger than that, because what I've been talking about has a direct connection to the historical precedent that has led us to the point we're at in the discussion surrounding Bill C-40.
With all due respect, Madam Chair, if you are making a ruling that would violate my privilege as a member to be able to intervene meaningfully on this subject, I would urge you to be very cautious in that, because I certainly wouldn't want you to inadvertently violate a member's privilege when there is a very close connection, and had it not been for the many interruptions....
Mr. Bittle talks about filibuster. Well, his word count in this committee is certainly not small, just in the course of him taking the time to delay the proceedings on the discussion that we are having. I urge careful consideration because I think it bears both a very clear relevance to the discussion at hand, and I wouldn't want a member's privileges to be violated.