House of Commons Hansard #4 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pandemic.

Topics

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order.

I appreciate the indulgence in these very historic times as we attempt our first virtual vote. As might be expected when one tries something for the first time, there are complications. Apparently there is an issue, North America-wide, with Microsoft's system. We have several members who have been unable to log in to be able to vote virtually, so I would seek the unanimous consent of the House that the members who were unable to log in virtually would be able to, with the Clerk by telephone, phone and communicate their votes. They would obviously hear the question, so we would ensure that they heard the question and that their identity was verified through the Clerk.

I would seek unanimous consent to apply that solution.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Normally, when there are requests for unanimous consent, the Chair asks in the affirmative whether the members agree.

This being a hybrid sitting of the House, were the Chair to proceed in this fashion, if there were any dissenting voices, particularly for members participating via video conference, they may not be audible.

Therefore, for the sake of clarity, I will only ask for those who are opposed to the request to express their disagreement. In this way, the Chair will hear clearly if there are any dissenting voices and I will accordingly be able to declare whether or not there is unanimous consent to proceed.

All those members opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

The hon. member for Yorkton—Melville is rising on a point of order.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Conservative

Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, I am hearing multiple conversations at once: yourself, the house leader and many at once.

Something is wrong.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

That is fair. I will ask everyone who is at home to place themselves on mute unless they have something to say.

There is no dissenting voice. It is agreed.

There have been many firsts these past few months, and today is no exception. While many had an opportunity last week to familiarize themselves with the new process, I want to briefly outline the next steps and avoid any confusion.

Before I read the question, I will ask the table to produce the list of members participating virtually, and who will later be called to vote. I will then read the question.

I will first ask those physically present in the House who are in favour of the motion to rise. I will then ask those physically present who oppose the motion to do the same. This is the normal procedure we are all familiar with.

Afterward, the table officer will call the names of those participating virtually by party in alphabetical order, starting with the party with the largest number of seats in the House, continuing with all the other parties and then independent members. It is essential that members' cameras are turned on for the duration of the vote. This allows the authentication of members, which is required by the House motion and is essential to the integrity of the decision-making process.

Once a member's name is called by the table, that member must turn on their microphone and indicate how they intend to vote by clearly stating either “I vote for the motion” or "I vote against the motion”. I would ask members to limit themselves to those words only.

In French, you should clearly say, “Je vote pour la motion” or “Je vote contre la motion”. I ask the members to use only these phrases.

I would ask members to please not turn on their microphones in advance. That can make their image appear in place of that of the person currently voting. Once they have voted, members should please mute their microphones.

You must remain connected to the sitting until the results of the vote are announced. If your name is not called by the table officer when the members of your party are being recognized to vote, please wait until all the members have been called. At that point I will invite any member who was not named but who heard the question to identify themselves. You can do so by using the “raise hand” function of the video conference application. I will then name each member who raised their hand in order to allow their vote to be recorded.

If at any moment during a vote, or when trying to join a sitting virtually, members experience technical difficulties, they should please contact the IT ambassador at the number indicated in the invitation. The IT ambassador will provide regular updates to the table.

The list of members voting by video conference has now been established for use by the table.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

Bloc

Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, I simply wanted to point out to you that with all the confusion around me I intended to vote for the motion, but I am concerned that you understood that I voted against. I would like to ensure that my vote is recorded in favour of this motion.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Usually when there is a request for unanimous consent, the Chair asks members to respond in the affirmative to determine whether there is agreement.

This being a hybrid sitting of the House, were the Chair to proceed in this fashion, if there were any dissenting voices, particularly for members participating via video conference, they may not be audible.

Therefore, for the sake of clarity, I will only ask for those who are opposed to the request to express their disagreement. In this way, the Chair will hear clearly if there are any dissenting voices and I will accordingly be able to declare whether there is unanimous consent to proceed.

I forgot to mention that it is necessary to have the unanimous consent of the House to change a vote.

All those opposed to the request of the hon. member will please say nay.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

An hon. member

Nay.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

There is no unanimous consent.

The hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Mr. Speaker, when I voted, and as is the case now, I could not see my face on the monitor. I just wanted to be sure that my vote was properly recorded.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Your vote was counted.

Order. Pursuant to order made earlier today, the table has contacted any members who were unable to participate in the vote because of technical difficulties. I therefore ask that the votes for the following members be recorded as follows: the hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly and leader of the Bloc Québécois votes in favour of the motion; the hon. member for Montarville votes in favour of the motion.

The member for Fleetwood—Port Kells votes against the motion.

The House divided on the amendment to the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #1

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the amendment to the amendment defeated.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I noticed something about a number of members voting virtually during the vote tonight. I am not going to list names or ridings at this point, but I will bring it to your attention because it might be a good time for you to remind members of this. A number of members voted without jackets, for example, and there were a couple of props that I saw on people's screens.

It might be a good time to remind people that being virtual is much like being in the House and there is a dress code and certain decorum that is required. It might be a good time for you to remind members, for the following votes, that those things are still appropriate when they are voting virtually.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to thank the hon. member for a very good point.

I want to remind all members that when they are voting, what they have in the background cannot be a prop or promote a certain ideology. It has to be as neutral as possible, much like what we have in the House. When voting, male members have to be wearing a jacket of some sort in order to speak. Normally, we have to wear a tie in the House and I would encourage everyone to wear a tie.

While we are on the topic, I want to remind all members that it is up to them to be in an area where they have good connectivity. If they can plug directly into their network, it makes it that much better. If they are in a place where the Wi-Fi is not very strong, they should find themselves a place where it is strong enough to vote and be heard.

I would like to thank all hon. members for their participation on this very historic evening.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Conservative

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I want to make a clarification. I noticed that more than a dozen members turned off their video after they voted and before the count was read. My understanding of the instruction is that members must keep their video on from the beginning of the vote until the vote is counted. Is that correct?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

That is correct. I remind all members that when they are voting, their video has to stay on from the beginning until the end of the vote.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I too rise on a point of order. I have been in touch with the hon. member for Fredericton and she believed her vote was counted and confirmed by the clerk, but I may have missed it. I did not hear you read it out. She had issues connecting through Zoom. The hon. member for Fredericton believes that she voted and that she voted against the motion.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Did she have a record of that?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, she had a video conversation with the clerk separately and believes her vote was counted, so I want to make sure I register that.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Unfortunately, we do not have a record of that. What we will do is check with the technical crew and get back and see what the results are. Once we have that, we will count it if that is appropriate.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is bound to be a glitch or two, but it was confirmed by both the member and a member of her staff in separate emails to me that she had voted and they were surprised not to hear her name read out with those who voted by making independent calls to verify their vote.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to thank the hon. member for bringing that up.

Are there any further questions or comments?

Are there any other points of order? The hon. member for Banff—Airdrie on a point of order.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. I did not think of this one earlier, but I am also aware that there were a number of members who were utilizing social media, for example, with pictures of the voting from the Zoom meeting. That is also something that is considered inappropriate, much like taking a picture within the House itself. It might be a good time to remind members about that as well, or maybe perhaps a ruling from you on that, Mr. Speaker, because it is new territory that we are in. I wanted to raise that with you as well.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

8:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

That is an item that was mentioned when we first started, so I want to remind the hon. members. I know they are excited and this is a historic night and they want to take a picture but they should not be taking pictures and posting them on the web. That is against the rules of the House while someone is voting.

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.