Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

That's your interpretation, sir.

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

Yes, but at some point—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

That's your interpretation. We give you the opportunity to ask questions your way and to ask the witnesses to focus—

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

And I don't interrupt the witnesses when they answer, because I have respect.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Actually, Mr. Drouin, I think you interrupt people more than you realize.

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

No, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Again, what I see here, Mr. Drouin, is that every time you jump in and interrupt the officials here, it looks like you have something to hide. The official is actually doing a job here—

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

I have a point of order, Chair.

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

You're opining on my opinion.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I am, because you're sitting there doing the same thing to me.

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

That is because I cannot listen to the witness.

That's the point, Mr. Chair. If we are going to have an honest conversation here, we must let the witness answer the question.

Come on!

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

All right, except—

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

At some point—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

—the opposition has a great point that there are rights of Parliament that have not been respected. Mr. McCauley is trying to get to that very answer.

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

I understand, but I can't hear the answer.

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

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Drouin, your side will have an opportunity—

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

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Yes, Ms. Khalid, go ahead.

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

It's not about my side. It's about decorum.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

That's a good one, Francis.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Ms. Khalid, go ahead.

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

Thank you very much.

I do have to say that there is a point to be made about decorum. You are chair, and it is very difficult for members of all parties to digest your own opinions on this committee. As you know, Chair—and I respect you immensely—being neutral and non-partisan on this committee is very important, and I really appreciate that my colleague has expressed his views. I have said time and again that when witnesses come before committees, they should be given the opportunity to respond to the questions that they are being asked.

This is not an interrogation. This is not an opportunity to grasp for whatever clips the opposition may want to fundraise off tomorrow or today. This is a fact-finding mission, as Monsieur Drouin clearly pointed out.

Chair, I would really expect you to do your job as chair, to be non-partisan and to ensure that there is decorum in how we operate as members and how we treat witnesses in this committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to go back to Mr. McCauley.

Again, as I said, this time belongs to the members. Mr. McCauley has been respectfully asking just to pinch the question in a little bit more.

Mr. Drouin, you're your own worst enemy here when you interrupt yourself.

Ms. Khalid, I am equally hard on the Conservatives when they do the same.

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

No, you're not.