Debates of May 26th, 2020

Suspension of Certain Standing Orders for Current Sitting

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion.

I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practice of the House, the application of Standing Orders 15 and 17 be suspended for the current sitting; and that the provisions of paragraphs (l) and (n) of the order adopted on Saturday, April 11, 2020, continue to apply to committees scheduled to meet by videoconference later this day.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, can I have clarification? My interpretation said Standing Orders 7 and 8, but I believe it should be Standing Orders 15 and 17. Could the House leader clarify?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thought I was speaking clearly when I said the numbers 15 and 17. If it was unclear, I apologize. It was indeed Standing Orders 15 and 17.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

(Motion agreed to)

Parliamentary Budget Officer

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

It is my duty to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled “Reporting of Gains and Losses in the Government's Financial Results”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), this report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition. This return will be tabled in an electronic format.

While I am on my feet, I move:

That the House do now proceed to orders of the day.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

All those in favour of the will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion:)

Vote #24

And the result of the vote having been announced: Yeas: 23; Nays: 23

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion defeated.

The member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie on a point of order.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you will have noticed that the voting was carried out in such a way that members opposed to the motion had to rise very quickly, which meant that the NDP caucus did not have time to stand up to have their vote recorded.

Our vote was not recorded at all, and I consider having our votes recorded to be part of our parliamentary privilege. For procedural reasons, there are far fewer of us in the House today. Things went a little faster than expected, and our vote was not taken into account.

The NDP caucus would therefore like its vote to be counted.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the NDP did not have its act together in knowing how to vote, but the rest of the House did. You have announced the result of the vote and I suggest that it stand.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the confusion, when I stood was my vote recorded? If so, for which side was it recorded? You will find, if you look at the recording, that I did stand during this process.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, they had plenty of time to stand up. I do not know what happened.

Maybe they were on sick leave?

In any case, it hardly matters. They did not stand, so I think the decision should be easy to make.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Hamilton Centre voted nay, against the motion.

I want to remind hon. members that normally the procedure is that if a member votes one way and wants to change that vote, the member can rise on a point of order and ask that the House see it differently. However, the member needs the unanimous consent of the House for a vote to be changed.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, given the confusion and the irregular nature of today's sitting, I would ask that my vote be changed.