Public Safety Committee on Oct. 4th, 2023

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

Are we good to get started again?

Everyone, let's get back to business.

I'll tell you what: If anybody else wants to keep the chair informed of the score once we get going, feel free. The Blues Jays are on at 4:30. I see a thumbs-up in the back of the room.

Thank you, everyone, and thank you very much to the witnesses.

Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.

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

Thank you.

I move that the committee not proceed with clause-by-clause on Bill C-20 until it has disposed of the motion respecting the Paul Bernardo transfer and the invitation to representatives of the victims' families.

Chair, I am gravely concerned about what has just taken place and what we see happening in this country in general. It would seem at a minimum level of reasonableness that the public safety committee would be able to have one meeting—

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

On a point of order—

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

I'm not talking about multiple meetings. We're talking about one meeting—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

We have a point of order.

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

—to hear from the families of victims of Paul Bernardo.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

Mr. Genuis, just one moment, please.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would ask to see if this is in order. It's a direct conflict with the motion that was just passed.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

Let me check on that.

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

Chair, could I maybe just speak to the point of order as you're deliberating? Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

Just give me one moment.

Through discussions with the clerk, we did leave off last time in a very precarious area, and I do know that the clerk of that day did want to carry on. It is my decision to make, and I will hear you, Mr. Genuis, so carry on.

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

Thank you—

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I'm sorry. On a point of order, Mr. Chair, are you ruling that his motion is in order?

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

Did you want me to speak to the point of order?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

No, I have the floor. I've asked a question of the chair, not to you.

Mr. Chair—

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair—

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Excuse me. Do I have the floor, Mr. Chair?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

Yes, Ms. O'Connell.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I'm asking if you ruled that the motion is in order.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

I have ruled that I would hear Mr. Genuis because I did get information—

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Sorry, the—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Doug Shipley]

May I speak? I did get confirmation from the clerk that the final decision is up to me, and I'm making that decision now to hear Mr. Genuis.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'd like to challenge the chair's ruling.

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

Just on a point of order, he hasn't made a ruling yet. I think he was inviting me to comment on the point of order before making a ruling, so he hasn't made a ruling—