Debates of Feb. 25th, 2021

Points of Order

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and I would like to ask for unanimous consent to adopt the following motion. I move: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, special order or usual practice of the House, this evening, after Private Members' Business, the House shall continue to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment for the purpose of considering a motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), and when no member rises to speak or at 12 a.m., whichever is earlier, the debate be deemed adjourned and the House deemed adjourned until the next sitting day; and during the debate tonight, no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair.

I was—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I will interrupt and then allow the member to either start over or continue.

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is rising on a point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, you ruled yesterday that a member repeatedly raising points of order for the purpose of unanimous consent on the same matter is out of order when there has not been any material change in the matter. The member is repeating a point of order, a request for unanimous consent, on a matter that he has very recently raised. I ask, following your ruling yesterday, that you rule on these repeated requests for unanimous consent on a matter the House has already pronounced itself on. They should not be raised.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Let me consult with the table.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add to that point before you rule on it.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

With the ruling I am going to give, I do not think the member is going to worry too much.

I want to clarify things for the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan regarding the point of order. If he recalls, yesterday, when we had exactly the same request, there was a change. There was consultation, and if he checks Hansard, he will see there was a change in the request. I believe there have been some changes since the hon. member made this request, based on what I have heard so far.

I will let the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands continue.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the material change here is that we are now 24 hours closer to a deadline induced by the Superior Court. There is a material change, and given that change, consideration should be given by all members to adopt the following motion. I move: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, special order or usual practice of the House, this evening, after Private Members' Business, the House shall continue to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment for the purpose of considering a motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I will interrupt again for a second. Apparently there is a technical issue. I hope it is a technical issue.

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a technical issue. When I am trying to raise points of order, someone in the technical department is muting my microphone. That is a serious violation of my privileges as a member. I will always respect the direction of the Chair, but it is not up to technical staff to mute my microphone when I have a serious matter of order to raise. I ask that you take seriously the impact it has on the privileges of members when someone else takes it upon themselves to mute members' microphones.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I thank the hon. member and will look into that.

The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay has a point of order.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it concerns me when we see members, like the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, use technology to interrupt people speaking in the House and continually interfere. We have a right, as members, to hear a motion before we decide whether we are going to support it or not, but we cannot have someone use technology to continually obstruct an effort to put a motion on the floor. The member has been obstructing this. He uses this tactic all the time and I think we should mute his microphone.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I think we have dealt with this issue.

The hon. member for Salaberry—Suroît has a point of order.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleagues.

I think that the rules of decorum in the House dictate that we listen when someone is speaking. If we want to rise on a point of order, we can do so afterward. It is disrespectful to continually interrupt a colleague when they are speaking.

I would ask you to remind the member of the rules of decorum in the House.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is a very good point.

We have already dealt with this. I ask the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan to wait until the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands has finished his point of order. Then we can continue from there.

The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and I believe if you ask, 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, this evening, after Private Members' Business, the House shall continue to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment for the purpose of considering a motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), and when no member rises to speak or at 12 a.m., whichever is earlier, the debate be deemed adjourned and the House deemed adjourned until the next sitting day; and during the debate tonight, no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As you mentioned, the big difference now is that 24 hours have passed. What if one minute has passed? Will that be deemed a sufficient change for a motion like this to be brought forward again?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The member mentioned that discussions had taken place. That is where the change is, not the time.

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

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

A message from His Excellency the Administrator of the Government of Canada transmitting estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 2022, was presented on behalf of the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Speaker to the House.

Main Estimates, 2021-22

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the President of the Treasury Board, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Main Estimates, 2021-22.

Also, on behalf of the President of the Treasury Board, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the departmental plans of 88 departments and agencies for 2021-22.

Federal Tax Expenditures

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, a document in both official languages entitled “Report on Federal Tax Expenditures”.

Employment Insurance Act

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (additional regular benefits), the Canada Recovery Benefits Act (restriction on eligibility) and another Act in response to COVID-19.

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

Liaison

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 107(3), it is my pleasure to present, in both official languages, the third report of the liaison committee, entitled “Committee Activities and Expenditures—April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020”. This report highlights the work and accomplishments of each one of our committees, as well as details the budgets that fund the activities approved by all committee members.

Public Safety and National Security

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, two reports of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

The first is the third report of the committee, and it is on security in relation to C-228, An Act to establish a federal framework to reduce recidivism. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments. I want to congratulate the hon. member for Tobique—Mactaquac. It was a very informative and useful committee meeting, and I wish the member well in the legislative journey of this bill.

The second is the fourth report of the committee, adopted Monday, February 22, regarding its condemnation of the statements made by the National Firearms Association. It reads in part, “That...the National Firearms...statements made by Sheldon Clare, President, on February 16, 2021 in a video posted online with regards to the introduction of the Bill C-21 which states...”.

I will not go on to state what the contents are, but it was clearly perceived by the members of the committee to be a threat. If it is a threat to one, it is a threat to all of us, and under no circumstances are these kinds of threats to be perpetrated. We have seen what happened on January 6 in the United States. We do not need that repeated here.

Canada-China Relations

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations entitled, “The Breach of Hong Kong's High Degree of Autonomy: A Situation of International Concern”.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the clerk, the analysts, the interpreters, the technical staff and all those who support the committee.