Yes, I would like to correct your statements.
Firstly, when I referred to an open session, I was clearly referring to the open public session of the subcommittee, which was made public at your request and to which the other members of the subcommittee agreed. I was not referring to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. That's the first correction.
Secondly, I never said it referred to chairs of other subcommittees making statements that they were going to vote or that rules were adopted. I believe if one in fact checks the record, it was you, Chair, who talked about the fact that there are other subcommittees where the chair is a government member and where the chair has indicated that he or she is going to vote or has actually voted. I never made that statement, but you did. I would suggest that you check the record.
Thirdly, in the procedure and House affairs committee or in any other meeting where this has been discussed, it has been discussed in a closed, in-camera session. I'm not therefore making any reference to any proceeding that took place in camera. Whether it was the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs or any other meeting where this issue was discussed, it was in camera. I would suggest that the chair himself abide by that.
Lastly, in a public session of the subcommittee, it was clearly stated by the clerk that the rules are in fact that the chairs of a standing committee or a subcommittee of a standing committee do not vote unless it is to break a tie. Committees have the authority to change that rule. The rule has not, however, been changed by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the current rule therefore stands. It means that the chair of the subcommittee on gifts of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs does not have the right to vote except in the event of a tie vote.
The question that was posed to you, Mr. Chair, was on a clarification of your statement that you, of course, abide by the rules. Do you recognize that rule, which is the current rule under which this subcommittee operates, given that the regular rule wherein chairs do not vote except in the case of a tie has not been changed by our committee of the whole? It's a simple “yes or no” question.