House of Commons Hansard #44 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendments.
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In view of the interjection, could we continue debate until we have had that resolved.
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Is there unanimous consent of the House to allow the member for York South—Weston to speak?
John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I think the House would benefit greatly from hearing the wit and wisdom of the member for York South—Weston.
I was able to tell the House a moment ago about the career background of the member for Vancouver Quadra. However, many in the House will not know that the member for York South—Weston was the head of government of one of the largest governments in Canada, larger than most provinces in fact, when he was chairman of the government in metropolitan Toronto. Many people in the House probably did not know that when he asked whether he could have unanimous consent to say a few words.
I would ask, again, for the unanimous consent of the House to allow the member for York South--Weston to speak.
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Is there unanimous consent to allow the member for York South--Weston to speak until the clerks and the member for Vancouver Quadra have finished working out the details of the amendment?
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, in the several years that I have been in the House I have never experienced anything like that. I was concerned that the hon. member across the floor was making a gesture but I am glad it was just three minutes.
I would like to focus on one aspect of the accountability bill that comes from the motivation of the government and the reinstitution of the Office of the Comptroller General as a result of the hearings that went on during the sponsorship debacle.
The part of the bill that is most effective and which bridges with the hearings that were conducted by the public accounts committee concerns the issue of the budget officer. It seems to me that it is the entrenchment, through the office of the budget officer, of the responsibility of oversight on the committee structure of the House.
Although Justice Gomery made a wide variety of recommendations, the one recommendation that hearkens back to his investigation through many days of hearings was related to how the accountability loop, which gives more strength to the committee structure and parliamentarians to ensure there is accountability, is closed. I think, through the budget officer, there is the opportunity to do that.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Since we have given the member three minutes, could I ask for the permission of the House to ask him one small question?
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the member for Sackville—Eastern Shore have the consent of the House to ask one small question of the member for York South—Weston?
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, I quickly glanced through this and I have followed the debates of Bill C-2 within the committee.
Because that gentleman is very experienced in terms of accountability when it comes to legislation and all of that, I must say to him that the bill is missing one very serious aspect. The bill can be passed tonight and through the Senate tomorrow, for example, but it would still not stop myself or someone else from becoming a member of another political party tomorrow without going back to our constituents.
We talk about accountability but the entire House has ignored or forgotten the aspect of stopping floor crossing.
I would like to ask the hon. member why such an important aspect of accountability to our constituents would not have been included in Bill C-2?
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, I believe it was Lord Acton who said that we cannot legislate ethics and that we cannot legislate integrity. I believe those are the components that come into a decision with respect to accountability to our constituencies.
The bill may not legislate that but it behooves us all to take wise counsel in terms of the things we do. We are judged by our constituents on that basis.
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
The question is on Motion No. 28. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
(Motion No. 28 agreed to)
The next question is on Motion No. 29. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
The Acting Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.
