Official Languages Committee on Feb. 9th, 2012

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

You gave me the floor.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Order!

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

You gave me the floor, so I'm asking that we go in camera.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Order, Mr. Gourde!

Go ahead, Mr. Aubin.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Clerk, according to procedure, if the chair gives me the floor, I can ask that we go in camera. That is not a matter for debate.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Mr. Gourde—

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

That is what the procedure states. Check with the clerk, Mr. Chairman.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Order, Mr. Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Check with the clerk. You gave me the floor—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

There is no motion—

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

You gave me the floor, Mr. Chairman. I ask that we go in camera. That is part of procedure.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Order!

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Please, Mr. Chairman.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Continue, Mr. Aubin.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Chairman, according to procedure—

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I'll continue then:

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[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Pardon, Mr. Aubin.

Yes, Mr. Trottier?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

That is nevertheless the chair's decision. He was given the floor.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

Based on what I have seen in the Standing Orders, no motion can be introduced while a member has the floor. The speaking time allotted to the member is unlimited unless rules have been established in advance. However, in this committee, no rule was established in advance regarding debate, when a member wishes to speak.

I therefore hand the floor over to Mr. Aubin.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

The chair nevertheless gave Mr. Gourde the floor.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

The only thing I told Mr. Gourde was to remain silent because he did not have the floor. That is my interpretation.

Go ahead, Mr. Aubin.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

That is not the clerk's interpretation.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I have a point of order.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Yvon Godin]

One moment, please.

It is up to the chair to decide whether or not to give a member the floor. I did not give Mr. Gourde the floor. I asked him to be quiet during Mr. Aubin's speech. That was my decision.

Go ahead, Mr. Aubin.