Thank you, Mr. Godin.
Mr. Serré, I let you continue talking, but you occasionally go off-topic. You say things that are relevant, digress and then come back to the topic. This time you went a little far. You need to stick to the amendment or the original motion.
I would like to remind members of what Standing Order 116(2)(a) states when there is debate on a motion or a proposed amendment to that motion: … the Chair of a standing, special or legislative committee may not bring a debate to an end while there are members present who still wish to participate.
If I were to do that, the ruling could be brought to the attention of the Speaker of the House. If the Speaker were to rule that I had improperly shut down debate, any further discussion and decisions of the committee could be nullified.
The only time a committee chair can put an end to a debate is when the same thing is repeated on a given subject. I've said this before in another debate, maybe a year ago, and I think all members were here. I give people who repeat themselves three chances and no more. Once the point has been made, we have to move on.
I will tell you what my work as chair entails as well as my reasoning, so that it is clear to everyone.
I can give leeway if someone strays from the subject at hand. If someone draws parallels, gives examples and then comes back to the subject, I have no choice but to allow it, because it is part of the debate. I don't want to risk shutting down this debate. Imagine if I put an end to debate on a motion in committee and then, later on, the Speaker of the House decides that I did the wrong thing. All the work done by the committee afterwards would be nullified. The Standing Orders allow for that, and that is what I want to avoid.
Mr. Serré, you were not that far from the essence of the motion, but you were going off on a tangent and straying a bit too far from the subject. I would therefore suggest that you come back to the motion or the amendment, since the two are inseparable. The floor is yours.