Official Languages Committee on April 18th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We cannot vote on each individual component of the preamble. We vote on it as a whole and we either adopt it or negative it. If you wish to break it up into components, that will remain and components that will be struck—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

—then you need to propose an amendment. If you want to do that, I'll give you the floor to do so.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I propose the following amendment. I propose that we not delete the text starting nine lines above the words “Sa Majesté”, in other words that the words “Sa Majesté” not be preceded by the deleted lines; that is not respectful.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Can you repeat your amendment?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I propose, by way of amendment, that the eight lines above the words “Sa Majesté” not be struck. There are eight lines in English and nine in French. That is a very original amendment, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes, thank you.

We have an amendment in front of us—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

And it is monarchical.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

which is to strike in both—

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

No, it is to not strike—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Remove the strike.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We have an amendment to strike the first 10 lines of—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

No, it's not to strike anything. I want to de-strike. I don't want to be responsible for any strike.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

It is confusing, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We have an amendment in front of the committee that would strike lines 1 through 10 inclusive of both the English and—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I withdraw. We don't want that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, but that's the way—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

If you don't want to do it the way I want, I withdraw.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I can't do it the way you want.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I don't want to strike anything. I want to de-strike—to leave it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I understand, Mr. Dion, what you're trying to do. Just give me a moment.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I prefer to do nothing. I withdraw the amendment because it is going nowhere.

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

Mr. Chair, he has withdrawn it.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I do not want to be responsible. I do not want to be the first person to strike anything.