Debates of Oct. 29th, 1999

Committees Of The House

[Jim Gouk, Reform, West Kootenay—Okanagan, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Yesterday, either a point of order or a point of privilege was raised with regard to a comment that was made. Albeit innocently, it was interpreted, because of racial background, that it was a racial slur. That was dealt with in the House.

Today, I heard a comment directed at the Reform Party members present, of which I was one. In my hereditary background is German ancestry. In the speech today by the hon. member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys, there was a definite reference made to the members of the Reform Party, myself included, using the term jackboot. That is a very specific and derogatory term used during World War II toward people of German descent.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

I will interrupt the member for a second and I will get back to the him. At this point there is a motion before the House which must be dealt with. The point of privilege is not pertinent to this particular motion and we will get back to the hon. member.

Will those members who object to the motion please rise in their places.

And more than 15 members having risen:

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

More than 15 members having risen, the motion is deemed to have been withdrawn.

(Motion withdrawn)

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Madam Speaker, it has been quite a day. Let us just summarize what has happened here today.

Of course the government is saying certain things. Members of the NDP are saying certain things and other parties are not saying anything. The government House leader stands up ranting and raving about procedures and standing orders and whatnot. It is unbelievable he would do that. We are following the standing orders and the procedures. He put a motion forward on this whole topic which is clearly in the standing orders. That is the procedure we are following here today.

He talked about the finance committee travelling and how important that is. Members of the NDP said the same thing. We know it is important, but we also know that it is mainly an exercise for the Minister of Finance to have a photo opportunity. I guess the member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys is also in the photo-op. Perhaps that is why he was so upset earlier today.

It is obvious what is happening here today. There has been some procedural wrangling about this, that and the other thing.

The official opposition wants the aboriginal affairs committee to travel to British Columbia. We want the standing committee to go to British Columbia. Sure, we want the finance committee to have hearings as well. But fundamental to this—

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I hesitate to interrupt my friend's presentation, but he mentioned Indian affairs which would deal with this legislation and it has not even got the legislation yet. The committee will decide whether it wants to travel or not. It is still at second reading stage. It is not even before the committee, so how can we pre-judge what the committee will do in the future?

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

That is debate, not a point of order.

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Madam Speaker, I guess the hon. member did not get enough air time earlier, so he is doing a little venting right now.

The point is that members of the official opposition are fulfilling their duty as members of the opposition to hold the government accountable. We will stand in this place today. We will stand in this place tomorrow. We will stand wherever we need to stand to hold members of the government accountable. It is very clear that they do not want to travel to British Columbia. They do not want the aboriginal affairs committee to go there to hear the people of British Columbia on Nisga'a. They do not want to do that. It is those people over there in the Government of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

It being 2.30 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday next at 11.00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2.30 p.m.)