Evidence of meeting #69 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
I have a point of order and I am demanding that Mr. Williams apologize. He accused me of being an affront to Parliament and to the committee. All I want to do is to table a motion.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
Mr. Laforest, if you do not respect the ruling of the chair, I have the power to suspend the meeting right here and now.
Mr. Williams has the floor. Your name is on the list. There is an order that goes on here. It's not a free-for-all. You're next on the list.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Chairman, I am challenging your decision. There can be no other discussion. Mr. Williams insulted me and I am demanding an apology.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
Mr. Williams, if I hear Mr. Laforest's point—I think it's a valid point—
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
Just hear me out on it. He has a motion on the floor to not sustain the decision the chair has made, and that motion is here. It seems to me that we can deal with this matter by just having the members of the committee make the decision as to whether I made a proper decision or not, and we'll move on. It seems to me to be rather straightforward. I really think that, other than maybe some individuals, we have a consensus on—
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
We have asked for a recorded vote, Mr. Chairman.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
I'm going to rule it's not debatable.
The motion was whether the chair's decision to reserve this matter is the proper decision and should be sustained. That's the motion we're dealing with.
This is a democracy. We've had a debate. Let's have a vote and decide what we're going to do.
(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 8; nays 3)
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
Thank you, honourable members, for sustaining the chair.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Chairman, I have a point of order and I am asking you to listen this time, because earlier you let Mr. Williams speak to my point of order, which you should not have done. Mr. Williams took the opportunity to blabber on about me and to accuse me of being an affront to the House of Commons, to Parliament and to the committee. I am demanding that he apologize and that he take back what he said. Just because I tabled a motion, Mr. John Williams claims that I am an affront to the rights of—
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Brian Fitzpatrick
I know there are rules about impugning the motives of individual members, but I did not interpret it that way. It was a general commentary about the role of the Crown and Parliament and being careful about treading and calling.... I didn't interpret that as being directed at any individual. I don't think--
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
John Williams Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
No. I think you ruled perfectly well, Mr. Chairman.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Mr. Chairman, I demand to speak on this subject. It was not a general statement.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
It was not a general statement and it was not at all—
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
An hon. member
He doesn't have one.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
I had a point of order, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Williams' words were directed at a member who tabled a motion. But the member is well within his rights to table such a motion.
