Evidence of meeting #80 for Natural Resources in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
I'm going to ask you to turn off your mic. You were not recognized.
Ms. Dabrusin will have an opportunity to present her point of order—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Mr. Falk, I'll ask you to turn off your mic, please, and allow Ms. Dabrusin to present her point of order.
December 6th, 2023 / 6:45 p.m.
Liberal
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Chair, I believe you have made a ruling. Are they challenging the chair? If yes, let's put it to a vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Thank you, Ms. Dabrusin.
Colleagues, if you are challenging the chair, please express that. If you're not, let's move forward on the previous decision that has been made.
Now I will go to Mr. Brock on the point of order.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you.
For the record, my colleague Mr. Falk was absolutely correct. Both the chair and the clerk looked at me at the same time that Mr. Patzer raised a point of order. From that, I inferred that I would be recognized immediately after Mr. Patzer, but I wasn't. The chair prioritized a member of the Liberal Party. That's one observation I wish to make.
The second observation, based on the point of order from Mr. Genuis, is that this particular order says, “shall start at 6:30”. It doesn't say “may.” “Shall” is not discretionary. My original point of order was to ask the chair to explain why there was an approximate 10-minute delay, notwithstanding all committee members were clearly seated in their seats, ready to get the meeting started.
I looked over at the chair. The chair was not engaged in any discussion with any technical officials or the clerk. The chair has indicated on the record that there were technical difficulties. I would like an explanation, on the record, as to what those technical difficulties were, because clearly no one is on Zoom right now.
Perhaps the chair can provide a little more clarity, on the record, as to what technical difficulties prevented him from complying with this particular order that we should commence—or “shall” commence—at 6:30.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Thank you, Mr. Brock, for your point of order. A ruling has been made on that, and we will proceed.
I have provided clearly to committee members what the delay was and on the technical....
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
If you would like to challenge the ruling of the chair, I ask you to do so.
Mr. Brock.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I am asking for a clarification, sir, which I'm entitled to do. You have not provided a clarification. If the chair refuses to provide a clarification, I will challenge your order.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
You have the ability, Mr. Brock, to challenge the ruling that has been made.
I'm going to go to the next point of order by Mr. Angus.
Mr. Angus, go ahead, on a point of order.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
I want to totally support Mr. Brock. Mr. Brock says that, if he doesn't get an explanation, he's going to challenge the chair. I totally support him.
Chair, I think you made a ruling. If you do not give a technical explanation, then Mr. Brock is going to challenge the chair.
I'm more than willing to have Mr. Brock challenge the chair. He said it, and if he doesn't want to follow through, then what he's doing, Mr. Chair—and I don't want to waste anyone's time; this is important legislation—is just using his spot to try to upend our work.
If he's going to challenge the chair, I support him—challenge the chair. If he's not, then he should participate as a respected member of Parliament and follow through.
Chair, I think you have made a ruling. Let them challenge you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Colleagues, before I go to the next point of order, I am going to remind members as well of what I have done in previous meetings.
I will endeavour to ask you to pause, and I will turn on my mic to ensure that our interpreters can hear one committee member at a time, so that we do not have multiple committee members speaking into the mic at the same time and so that our interpreters can interpret.
I would ask committee members, when you have a point of order, to look at me. I will try my best to make sure I give everybody an opportunity to participate. You can raise your hand. You can acknowledge me, but if I do turn on my mic and I ask you to pause, I would ask all committee members to pause at that point. Thank you.
We have a point of order from Mr. Genuis.
Mr. Genuis, go ahead on the point of order.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
When Mr. Angus was speaking, I thought it would be important to clarify the rules around the participation of members. I know that in the House yesterday Mr. Angus was not able to speak because he explicitly defied the Speaker. I wonder if he is permitted to speak in committee or if the rules still apply.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Mr. Genuis, thank you for your intervention. That was not a point of order. You have been engaging in debate. I will ask you turn off your mic.
I will go to Ms. McPherson on a point of order.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I am just reiterating that it was difficult to understand the member because his mouth was full. If he could please finish what he's eating before addressing the committee, that would be appreciated.
Liberal
