Transport Committee on Sept. 6th, 2024

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Mr. Barsalou‑Duval, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Bachrach.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

When a decision of the chair is challenged, can a debate be held on the decision or do we simply proceed to a vote? I don't know the procedure for that, but someone could perhaps enlighten me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Normally, we have to go straight to a vote.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I believe I still have the floor, if I'm not incorrect.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Yes. Go ahead, Mr. Lawrence.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

It's my fault. I'll take responsibility for that.

In response to my colleague from the Bloc, I don't think I've actually moved to challenge the chair, but I will move that now. I'll challenge the chair's decision that Mr. Bachrach's subamendment is out of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

We'll go to a vote on challenging the chair. If you're voting yea, you are voting to uphold the decision to not include a reference to Greyhound bus service in the amendment, or then to not entertain the amendment by Mr. Bachrach. If you're voting nay, it means that you are voting against the chair's decision.

Correct me if I'm wrong Madam Clerk. You're voting yes to uphold, or you're voting nay to vote against the chair's ruling.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The ruling of the chair stands.

Now we'll get to the vote on Ms. Romanado's amendment as proposed.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The amendment proposed by Ms. Romanado carries.

Mr. Lawrence, before we go to a vote on the main motion as amended, I believe you have something you want to add.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I do want to propose one more amendment. I think it could be dispensed with relatively quickly, as I believe that members have made up their respective minds, but I want to bring another amendment. That would start with the same language that was removed. I'm aware, of course, that you can't bring back the same. We would amend it to also include “the failure of this Liberal government to protect and to maintain bus transportation”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Before I have to rule that out of order, because you can't amend you own motion, can you ask another member of your caucus to put that forward, please, since you are not allowed to amend your own?

Mr. Berthold, the floor is yours.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

I propose the same thing.

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

Can he read it in French, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Do you want to just reread it, perhaps, for—

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Maybe we could suspend for one minute, and I'll get it to you, if that makes sense.

[Some hon. members]

Please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

We'll suspend for two minutes to allow Mr. Lawrence to distribute his amendment.

Beforehand, do you have a question that you want to have addressed, Mr. Muys or Mr. Bachrach, before I suspend for two minutes?

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

No. I was just going to actually suggest the same amendment, so that's fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Muys.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'll wait for the amendment to arrive. Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Bachrach.

The meeting is suspended for two minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I call this meeting back to order.

As discussed during the break, Mr. Lawrence, we will be turning it over to Mr. Muys to formally put forward the amendment that you've proposed, as he is able to do so.

Mr. Muys, I'll turn the floor over to you to read that out for consideration, please.

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

Thank you.

I do not have the exact wording in front of me. I'm sorry.

Okay, here it is. I move “That this committee condemn the Liberal government's failure to protect reliable passenger transportation systems, including Canadian bus systems, and report this finding to the House.”

That is the paragraph.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Muys. That was distributed in both official languages.

Go ahead, Mr. Drouin.

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

This amendment is a bit like the one that was presented earlier. That said, Canadian bus systems do not come under our jurisdiction. I don't think Montreal or Quebec City are asking the federal government for approval to have a bus system in their municipalities. I don't see why the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities would look into this issue, which has nothing to do with the federal government.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Drouin.

Are there any other questions or comments on the subamendment proposed by Mr. Muys?

Mr. Barsalou‑Duval, the floor is yours.