Science and Research Committee on April 27th, 2026

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I move that the committee proceed to drafting instructions—

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Madam Chair, I have a point of clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We have a dilatory motion on the floor.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Madam Chair, I have a point of clarification before we go to Mr. Deschênes-Thériault.

I'm looking, but I don't have the blues in front of me. The blues are, if I could suggest.... Every committee member here would probably agree that getting the blues in a timely manner.... It has been disappointing, to say the least. We've been required to do drafting instructions, for example, for the EV study. Unfortunately, we still don't have the blues for Monday, which would assist in this regard. I've been watching the television proceedings from the previous hearing on Monday.

My understanding is that when you suspended, Madam Chair, my Bloc colleague had the floor with regard to that matter. He didn't cede speaking on the motion. He asked some questions with regard to some of the decisions you made. My understanding is that my colleague never ceded the floor with regard to discussions on the motion. My Liberal colleague may well be on the list to participate in speaking, but my understanding is that the Bloc would be first. We would continue because we suspended the meeting. We never ended the meeting, so we are legitimately picking that up.

My feeling is that once we go to the Liberal member, he's going to—it's happened four or five times already with Liberal committees—call a vote to go in camera, which would be extremely disappointing. We were going to discuss a motion with regard to the decision made by this government on Spaceport. Ultimately, on the change this government made, they have the numbers. They can defeat it, but they should be defeating this motion in public so the public can see what is taking place here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

MP Baldinelli—

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

No, I have the floor. Then I'll cede my time. This is a point of clarification with regard to how this meeting is running. Madam Chair, let me finish.

It is rather disappointing to see that this may be what is happening again. Once we go in camera and a decision is made to end the discussions, we will vote. None of us is able to discuss what happens in camera. We won't be able to discuss the vote on that motion. I want to point this out and point out my disappointment with regard to what is happening here today.

I will also say this. In 2021, when I was re-elected, I had the pleasure of sitting on the science committee. Kirsty Duncan was the chair. Kirsty Duncan would be disappointed in what you're doing here today, Madam Chair.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

I have a point of clarification, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Let me reply to MP Baldinelli.

When we suspended the meeting, MP Blanchette-Joncas was speaking on a point of order. He's not here today. The floor is for the member who had it, not the party. It will not go back to the Bloc.

MP Deschênes-Thériault is on the speaking list, so the floor goes to MP Deschênes-Thériault.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I move that the committee proceed to drafting instructions, Madam Chair.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

I have a point of clarification on that matter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Wait one second, MP Ho. A dilatory motion has been moved by MP Deschênes-Thériault.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

As a newly elected member—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Wait one second. It's one person at a time. When I am speaking, please let me finish. I am trying to explain one thing to you.

MP Deschênes-Thériault has moved a motion that we move to drafting instructions. Those drafting instructions happen in camera. They cannot happen in public, so we will have to move.... This is a dilatory motion. I will provide you with clarification after that. We have to vote on this.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

As a point of clarification, I just want to understand that we are shutting off the cameras. That is what the motion will do. My understanding was this was a carry-over from the past meeting—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

It's a dilatory motion, which was moved by MP Deschênes-Thériault. We have to vote on it. There is no debate on it. Please—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

I just want to understand. Are we shutting off the cameras? Is that what we're voting on?

In light of a motion we have to study the space pad.... Are we shutting off the cameras? Is that what we're doing? I just want to know. For the benefit of everyone on this committee—we have a lot of newly elected MPs on this committee—and the public, I want to know if we're shutting off the cameras.

Is that what this motion effectively does?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

MP Deschênes-Thériault has moved a motion to move to drafting instructions. We will vote on it. If that motion passes, we will move on to drafting instructions, which are done in camera. They are not done in public.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I have a point of clarification, Madam Chair. This is purely for clarification purposes only.

We had a motion tabled and on the floor to study this space pad, which we didn't get a chance to vote on at the last committee meeting. Instead of doing that today, there's now a very strategic plan to make it look like they only want to go to drafting instructions, instead of moving the actual motion to go in camera. This was strategically planned so that it looks a little different to Canadians.

What I would like to say to Canadians right now—

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

I have a point of order.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

—is this is absolutely.... We have never gone in camera—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Wait one second, MP DeRidder. There's a point of order.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

—yet, today, at this committee meeting, when we're about to vote on a motion—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

MP DeRidder, we have a point of order.

MP Eyolfson.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

This is debate, and the motion is not debatable.