Debates of Feb. 4th, 1998

Pensions

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

I am sorry, hon. members, but I think we have to go back to this again.

Hon. members, after consultation with the clerk I am advised that the hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas asked for unanimous consent to introduce the motion. Unanimous consent to introduce the motion was given. It was given as I understand it without debate.

The House gave unanimous consent to move the motion without debate, as I understand it. The House then heard the terms of the motion and the question was put.

I am going to put the question again just so we get it clear. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Carried. On a point of order, the hon. House leader for the Reform Party.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to get this clear. Are we asking that the particular motion go through and to what stage? If approved now, does this motion go? That is the first question that I would like answered.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The Chair has been corrected. The hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas presented the motion but there was no mention of any debate on the motion. We received unanimous consent to present the motion and waive notice, which is what we did.

The second aspect of the question of the House leader of the Reform Party is what happens to the motion. It then becomes a resolution of the House and that is the end of it.

What we have to arrive at now is an opportunity for the member for York South—Weston to rise on debate but at some future date.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, unanimous consent was sought to put the motion and unanimous consent was received.

All that remains to be done on the part of the Chair is to put the motion, to ask whether it is the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion, at which point it may be in order for a member to say a word or two. Then the motion would be put to the House, not at some later date but now. The idea of the consensus was to get it passed and done with.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The Chair appreciates the timely intervention by the member for Winnipeg—Transcona. I will put the question.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Carried. On debate, the hon. member for York South—Weston.

(Motion agreed to)

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to make some very brief submissions with respect to the motion. I would like to—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

On a point of order, the whip of the Reform Party.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is turning into a botch-up. We have to stop and correct it now.

After a motion has been tabled and has received unanimous consent of the House, I do not think you can then move to debate it. After it has had unanimous consent you cannot then debate it.

There is no point debating something that we have all approved. There is something in the order that you have to correct. We cannot debate something we have passed or we will be here all day debating it. We cannot do it in that order.

[An hon. member]

If you want to debate, we will debate it.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

I am sure, Mr. Speaker, you have to look at that. It is not in the right order. We cannot be debating something we have passed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

On a point of order, the hon. member for Winnipeg—Transcona.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr Speaker, after asking whether it was the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion everyone said “Agreed” and you said “Carried”.

The motion is carried. You cannot debate a motion after it has been carried. The motion is passed and the matter is resolved.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

On a point of order, the chief government whip.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just for clarification, I understood the motion was put forth in a way that did not specify without debate. There might be some technical procedural matter here that we are dealing with and it is probably causing confusion.

Having said that, I wonder if we could get some indication from the hon. member for York South—Weston, who is seeking the floor, as to how long he might be. That might help us in getting on with the matter.

On the basis of the member for York South—Weston wanting the floor for a minute, would we be agreeable to letting him speak, I would submit, and then carry on with the other business of the day?

[An hon. member]

Agreed.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Hon. members, this is going to be a long evening. With the co-operation of all members, perhaps we can cut the Chair a little slack here and get past this.

Perhaps the Chair should have asked whether the original motion being moved was with or without debate. The fact of the matter is that it was not mentioned. The chief government whip has given us, the royal us, an opportunity to move beyond this, so I would beg the indulgence of all members to allow then—

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

No, we do not have unanimous consent. The motion is carried.

The Chair then asks for unanimous consent of the House to allow the member for York South—Weston to make a statement. Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.