Debates of Dec. 15th, 1999

Points Of Order

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

Perhaps we could proceed in this fashion. I will start with the second row and with the hon. member for Joliette.

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a book entitled “Le pari de la franchise” was recently published. I think that following the announcement by the federal government of the tabling of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebecers, it might be useful to members of the House to take a look at a part of this book.

Consequently, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table this document.

[The Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—Cochrane, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.

I would like to tell the thousands of Quebecers and French Canadians across the country who are listening to us that, like all the Bloc members, I have a document in my possession. It is a report from the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages asking that the city of Ottawa—

[The Speaker]

This is a point of debate, not a point of order.

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—Cochrane, ON]

Mr. Speaker, to be fair, if members of the Bloc Quebecois have the right to ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table a paper, I believe that—

[The Speaker]

In that case, the hon. member has the floor.

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—Cochrane, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document and seek unanimous consent that the House ask the Ontario legislature to make our national capital, Ottawa, a bilingual city where both French and English are recognized.

[The Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have here the speech the Prime Minister of Canada delivered in Hull on November 28, 1999, where he says that the referendum questions, both in 1980 and in 1995, were clear.

To clarify matters for the House, following the Prime Minister's announcement concerning the tabling of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebec, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table this speech.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I noticed earlier that, in all his wisdom, the Speaker of the House has allowed our colleague across the way to complete his presentation before asking for unanimous consent to table the document.

May I ask that you extend the same consideration to the members of our party, allowing us to finish our presentations so that our colleagues know exactly what we want?

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

We want fairness.

[The Deputy Speaker]

There was fairness. Some hon. members have already completed their presentations. The problem is that they are somewhat repetitious—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Deputy Speaker]

But yes, after numerous requests for unanimous consent, the Chair may speed things up a little.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have no doubts about your great mental capacity, nor do I have any doubts about your capacity for precognition. This being said, I do not think that you can assume what my colleagues will say when they stand.

You must give them the opportunity to offer their point of view so that all members of this House know what it is all about before deciding whether to give their consent or not.

[The Deputy Speaker]

When I interrupted the hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, he had already indicated that he wanted to table a document and was asking for the unanimous consent of the House to do so. The House refused consent.