Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 30th, 2023

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'll happily continue with my remarks. I'm just remembering where I was here.

The doctrine of privilege is something particular and unique in the context of parliamentary democracy. It is distinct from the doctrine of privilege—

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We have a point of order from Monsieur Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

I'd just like someone to confirm which Conservative members are currently permanent members of the committee so we don't have to go through the same rigmarole as we did earlier when everyone requested the floor.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Monsieur Simard has asked for a list of the Conservative voting members on the committee.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I do believe it's all been addressed and dealt with through the clerk.

We do have our four members already identified with the clerk as to who is part of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Perhaps I could ask the clerk to name them for the interest of the committee members and so that they are aware.

[Miriam Burke]

We have Mr. Genuis, Mr. Falk, Mr. Patzer and Ms. Stubbs.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Chair, Mr. Viersen just asked you to add his name to the list. Consequently, as I understand it, he's no longer on the list.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Are you asking for a ruling, Monsieur Simard, or are you clear on what was provided?

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

I unfortunately don't know what happened.

I don't know if Mr. Viersen was still a member when he requested the floor or if it was Mr. Falk who was there. Assuming there were four Conservative members on the list, excluding Mr. Viersen, it seems to me he wasn't entitled to speak, as was said earlier.

If that's the case, under the rules, I would ask you to withdraw Mr. Vieresen's name from the speaking list. I won't debate the matter again, but that's the logical thing to do under the rules and according to what was said earlier.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Ms. Stubbs, you have a point of order.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

It's to the point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Go ahead with your point of order, Ms. Stubbs, on the point of order.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Chair, I guess our colleague could challenge your ruling—others have said that they could challenge the chair—but earlier, at 3:40, you had talked about our colleague not being allowed to be added to the speaking list. You refused the participation, but then, as we came back in here, you did acknowledge him. You put him back on the speaking list and said we could proceed.

I guess if Monsieur Simard or anybody else has an issue with the decision you've made since we've come back, they can challenge the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

On the point of order, earlier there was a decision made, as a member had raised that the member was not in. The chair had made a ruling and the chair was challenged. A member did raise that the member was not in. That's why the chair had made a ruling at that time, and the chair was challenged.

[An hon. member]

A point of order, Chair.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Monsieur Simard seems to be litigating the decision you've made since we've come back that Arnold Viersen can speak. You've made that decision.

[An hon. member]

A point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We're now getting into debate.

I think I provided some additional clarity. If I have not, there's another point of order that the individual can raise.

[An hon. member]

A point of order.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I had raised a point of order before Charlie.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

I'm sorry. I did not hear the point of order from Mr. Angus, so we'll go to Mr. Patzer on the point of order.

We'll then go to you, Mr. Angus, if you still have a point of order.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I do.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Go ahead, Mr. Patzer.