We just have to change the opposition.
House of Commons Hansard #22 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was opposition.
House of Commons Hansard #22 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was opposition.
Standing OrdersGovernment Orders
10:55 p.m.
Liberal
Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC
We just have to change the opposition.
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10:55 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
I would invite the members opposite who are making comments among themselves to look at their own record, especially the member for Abitibi who brings in motions without even being able to find a seconder in his own party.
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10:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
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10:55 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please.
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10:55 p.m.
Liberal
Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member did not tell the whole truth. He could have mentioned the full name of my riding, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik. Moreover, I was able to make my speech anyway.
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10:55 p.m.
The Speaker
I believe this is a point of debate, not a point of order.
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10:55 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, I was in the House and I can say that the member had a hard time finding a seconder for his motion and finishing his speech.
That being said, I will close with a quote from Marleau and Montpetit. The government wants to give lessons in democracy, but if we knew all that is being said on the government benches while we are making our speeches—
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10:55 p.m.
Bloc
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10:55 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
It is outrageous for Canadian democracy. I will try to rise above the level of debate set by the Liberals.
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10:55 p.m.
Bloc
Standing OrdersGovernment Orders
10:55 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Here is what it says on page 260 of the book entitled House of Commons Procedure and Practice :
The duties of the Speaker of the House of Commons require balancing the rights and interests of the majority and minority in the House to ensure that the public business is efficiently transacted and that the interests of all parts of the House are advocated and protected against the use of arbitrary authority.
A little further on, it is even more interesting:
The Speaker is the servant, not of any part of the House or any majority in the House, but of the entire institution and the best interests of the House as distilled over many generations in its practices.
I was present when the government House leader introduced his motion. He said that, ultimately, it would not change much because the Chair was already doing this work. I urge the government not to go any further and to withdraw this motion, because so far the Chair has indeed used its authority wisely.
In a bill such as the one on young offenders, of the 3,000 amendments for which I gave notice, the Speaker still accepted 2,977. This is proof that these amendments were not all that pointless, and that the Chair could very well continue to do the work as it is doing it now.
Standing OrdersGovernment Orders
11 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. It being 11.01 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House.
The question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?
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11 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
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11 p.m.
Some hon. members
No.
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11 p.m.
The Speaker
All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.
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11 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yea.
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11 p.m.
The Speaker
All those opposed will please say nay.
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11 p.m.
Some hon. members
Nay.
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11 p.m.
The Speaker
In my opinion the nays have it.
And more than five members having risen:
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11 p.m.
The Speaker
Call in the members.
(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)
Division No. 13Government Orders
February 27th, 2001 / 11:30 p.m.
The Speaker
I declare the amendment lost.
The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Division No. 13Government Orders
11:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Division No. 13Government Orders
11:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
No.
Division No. 13Government Orders
11:30 p.m.
The Speaker
All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.
Division No. 13Government Orders
11:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yea.
