Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I see five.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

I have a point of order.

Many times in this committee we've come to this point, I believe, Chair—

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Great. We'll bring Elizabeth May.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

We can reflect on the last three years. There have been moments when this kind of disruption has taken place in the past.

There are two concerns that I think are really important while we have this...whatever this is. One is the interpreters. If we can find a way to make this as easy as possible for them, that's great.

Second, a speaking list could be instituted by you, Mr. Chair. I don't want to tell you how to do your job—certainly not. That's not what I'm saying. It just that perhaps a speaking order or a speaking list could help us predict when we should speak and when we shouldn't.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

You're absolutely right.

I am hearing points of order right now. I just heard from Mr. Erskine-Smith. Mr. Genuis has the floor.

Mr. Genuis had informed me before; I was expecting him to speak on his other motion, which he's not doing.

You have the floor, Mr. Genuis, on your on the point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I was just responding to the point of order from Mr. Erskine-Smith.

I hope this is helpful. I'm not trying to start a needless conflict. It's just that we're all guided by rules, and those rules are well established.

When there's a question of privilege—much as is happening in the House right now—that supersedes other business. If the chair rules that it is a matter touching on privilege, then that supersedes the other matters.

To Mr. Erskine-Smith's point, it's not as if someone just moved a motion on another topic. It has unique status as a privilege motion.

Again, I hope that's helpful.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Ms. Khalid, do you have a point of order, or is it moot now?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I'm just wondering if you've been satisfied by Mr. Genuis doing your and the clerk's job for you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Drouin.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would also entertain the fact that a question of privilege was raised on whether or not a question was answered.

I don't recall in any committee in nine years as to the quality of responses that we were provided, at any committee in the past nine years, 15 years, 20 years, 30 years and so on—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

That's debate.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

The quality of answers is not a question of privilege, and I would divert to you, Mr. Williamson, for the answer.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Arrive scam.... Kristian Firth....

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you very much.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Also, on another point of order, Chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Hold on. As Mr. Desjarlais said, I have several points of order.

I believe it's Mr. Erskine-Smith in a second, but I want to hear Mr. Perkins first.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

The confusion here started with a legitimate question by MP Erskine-Smith about a motion that was moved by Ms. Khalid. Then I moved and put forward a privilege motion about.... I think the question was whether you can do those two things at the same time.

The precedent was set in 2020, in FINA, on a similar item, when there was a motion on the floor, and then our our current leader, Mr. Poilievre, moved a question of privilege during it because a question of privilege takes precedence over everything else.

MP Khalid has asked if we could circulate my question of privilege. It's been sent to the clerk, so hopefully we can get that out.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Yes, Mr. Erskine-Smith.

[Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Okay, I think I have it clear, then.

If there's a legitimate question of privilege, then that will take precedence. In this particular case, that seems unlikely, but that's the process as far as it goes. Now I have it clear.

The condescension is not needed, Garnett, but it's nice to hear from you.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I was more responding to the others.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you.

Ms. Khalid, did you have a point of order? No, okay.

Go ahead, Ms. Sinclair‑Desgagné.

[Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'd ask that you suspend the meeting just long enough for us to get the privilege motion in both official languages. That would be very helpful for our team.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Okay, I'm going to suspend for two to three minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I'll bring the meeting back to order.

After discussing it with the clerk and reviewing some standing orders and some precedent, I am going to recognize Mr. Perkins's motion as a privilege motion.

The first step is that you're flagging a....

I'll come to you in just one second, Mr. Erskine-Smith. Why don't you hear what I have to say? Then I'm sure we can have points of order and discussions about it.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Can I speak to it first?