Debates of Oct. 20th, 2006

Decorum

[Belinda Stronach, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order regarding Standing Order 18, which reads as follows:

No Member shall speak disrespectfully of the Sovereign, nor of any of the Royal Family, nor of the Governor General or the person administering the Government of Canada; nor use offensive words against either House, or against any Member thereof. No Member may reflect upon any vote of the House, except for the purpose of moving that such vote be rescinded.

Yesterday, during question period, the Minister of Foreign Affairs used a very inappropriate word to describe me. This is not the first time he and his party have revealed their true colours regarding respect for women in politics and how chilling this behaviour is for those women who contemplate entering politics.

For that, Mr. Speaker, I simply ask that the Minister of Foreign Affairs apologize to this House.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

As I indicated yesterday when this matter was raised, the news of these statements is something that is new to me because I did not hear the comments or see any of the gestures that are alleged to have taken place.

My staff have carefully reviewed the audio tapes of question period and the written transcript of Hansard, which I myself have seen, and of course there is no reference to these words in either. So I am unable to confirm any of the suggestions that have been made. I know several members say that they heard these remarks.

However, in the circumstances, there is nothing further I can do at this time. Obviously, there may be further submissions on this point later.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. To make matters worse, during question period, when I was asking a very serious question about the demeaning and sexist actions of one member of the Conservative benches, a member over here on the back bench of the Conservatives, I believe the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, was heard to say “stop whining”.

I find that offensive and contrary to the spirit of this chamber. It makes a bad situation worse.

I hope now we will have apologies from the government on all sides, specifically with respect to that remark about whining, when we are raising a very serious matter that affects the women of this country and the members from all sides in this place.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would state, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister did on many occasions during question period today, that it is incumbent upon all of us, and I know that I have worked hard over the past number of months with my whip colleagues from all three of the opposition parties to restore some additional decorum to the House and to work with you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly that is the action that we are endeavouring to take. I am sure all the other parties would like to see greater decorum in the House. We are committed to that.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The opportunities for the Chair to intervene in respect of language used in the House, as hon. members know, are limited. We do enjoy freedom of speech in this House. Members are free to say what they want within fairly wide limits and the Chair enforces those broad limits.

However, the list of language that is unparliamentary is relatively short. Obviously words can be used in ways that are considerably impolite or improper in respect of other members and it may result in intervention by the Chair in certain circumstances.

However, I caution all hon. members to bear in mind that we do enjoy freedom of speech in this House and that members ought to conduct themselves in ways that are in accordance with the high expectations that Canadians have in members in electing them to serve in this place.

While I cannot hear everything that is said, especially when a lot of people are speaking at one time, I would urge hon. members to show proper caution in their use of language in the House and decent respect to each other because we are all elected to serve in this place, even though we may have differing political opinions.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in your remarks a moment ago you said that you were not in a position to comment after having had your staff examine both the transcript and the audio tape.

On this side of the House at least a dozen Liberal members heard the comment. May I respectfully suggest or submit to the Chair that in this case, given the particularly egregious breach of parliamentary conduct by a minister of the Crown, that the tape in question be sent out to a professional audio house, at which point the tape can then be examined more closely and we can then determine whether in fact the Minister of Foreign Affairs made the comments when he scurrilously referred to a member of Parliament on this side of the House as a dog.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I am getting tired of this one. The hon. member for Mississauga South.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes in matters where there have been questions of whether or not something occurred, those matters have been referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs where the committee can call persons who would know. Certainly persons sitting in the proximity of the Minister of Foreign Affairs would be able to answer the question on behalf of the House.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Members can move motions to refer matters to the committee should they choose to do so. It is not for the Chair to move motions in this House referring matters to committee. On a question of privilege, I may be able to do so but we have not had a question of privilege in this case. We have had points of order in respect of this case and it would not be for the Chair to suggest that motions are the way to resolve those matters. That, as I say, is not something in my jurisdiction.

Oral Question Period—Speaker's Ruling

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I would like to return to the question of privilege raised yesterday by the hon. member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean with respect to statements made by the hon. Minister of Industry in answers in reply to questions posed to him during question period that same day.

The hon. member alleges that the minister mislead the House by misrepresenting the position of Ms. Claudette Carbonneau of the CSN with respect to the older workers assistance program introduced by the government that same day.

The difficulty for the Chair in cases like this is that it would required the Speaker to be aware of all statements made at all times outside of this Chamber. It would leave the Chair in the impossible position of having to interpret and judge the content of these statements against the context of questions posed in the Chamber.

The hon. member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean made his version of the facts known to the House following the minister's response. While the member may very well find the situation frustrating, I must find that it is a dispute as to the facts as opposed to a breach of his privileges as a member and those of the House.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to seven petitions.

Canada Account

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, on behalf of the Minister of International Trade, the Canada Account Annual Report 2004-05 prepared by Export Development Canada.

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on the draft resolution of the UN first committee on arms trade.

Official Languages

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-359, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Lévis--Bellechasse.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Kitchener—Conestoga for supporting this motion. There are three different geographic realities in my riding: Lévis, Bellechasse and Les Etchemins. The purpose of this bill is to have the name of the riding reflect reality.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Witness protection program act--Bill C-286

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, with the House's indulgence I have a couple of motions to present. There have been discussions among all four parties and I believe you will find there is unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That Bill C-286 be referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security if passed at second reading, instead of the Standing Committee of Justice and Human Rights.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the chief government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find there is unanimous consent for the second motion. I move:

That, four members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security be authorized to attend the CASIS, Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies, 2006 International Conference, in Ottawa, from October 26 to 28, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the committee.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the chief government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.