Debates of June 9th, 1998

Division No. 201

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

(The House divided on Motion No. 11, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 202

[The Speaker]

I declare Motion No. 11 carried. The next question is on Motion No. 12.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

moved:

Motion No. 12

That Vote 1, in the amount of $793,631,000, under FISHERIES AND OCEANS—Operating expenditures, in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 (less the amount voted in Interim Supply), be concurred in.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wonder if you would seek unanimous consent for members to remove their coats.

[The Speaker]

Does the member have unanimous consent?

[An hon. member]

No.

[The Speaker]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

(The House divided on Motion No. 12, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 203

[The Speaker]

I declare Motion No. 12 carried.

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wonder if there are any rules in the House that would allow the member for York South—Weston and his five conspirators from the Reform and Conservatives to be charged the $40,000 it has cost the Canadian taxpayers for this farce tonight.

[Stan Keyes, Liberal, Hamilton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, given the hour of the evening I wonder if I could get unanimous consent of the House to allow our pages to go home if they so choose.

[The Speaker]

I need them to help me up here for the most part. I need them to get through the night.

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I did not say anything when the member for York South—Weston got up from his seat when we voted on Motion No. 3. Nor did I say anything when he got up from his seat on Motion No. 6. Nor did I say anything when he used his cellular as we were voting on Motion No. 8.

However, on the current motion, Mr. Speaker, if you consult Beauchesne's it says that the member should remain in his seat until the division is complete and the result announced. I believe the member left his seat before the result was announced.

[The Speaker]

I will address myself to the hon. member for York South—Weston. Did he vote according to the rules of the House?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right. I was absent as was the House leader of the government. I would expect his vote to be nullified.

I should add that on several of those matters I voted with the government. Many members of the House throughout the evening have absented themselves.