House of Commons Hansard #205 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was point.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Request to Consider Motions in Amendment Members debate the admissibility of amendments for Bill C-47 at report stage. Conservative MPs argue that committee proceedings were abnormal, limiting their ability to submit amendments, and urge the Speaker to select their motions. Liberal MPs contend that these oral arguments are inappropriate before a Speaker's ruling, suggesting members should have corresponded in writing and are filibustering. 2700 words, 20 minutes.
Alleged Breach of Privilege at Committee Conservative MP Garnett Genuis raises a question of privilege regarding the process of Bill C-47. He alleges multiple violations of members' privileges during committee proceedings, including limitations on the ability to move sub-amendments, raise points of order, and vote. He also cites issues with timely access to legislative drafting services for report stage amendments. Other Members argue the process was proper and the claims are delaying tactics. 3800 words, 30 minutes.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded Division Members debate technical difficulties during a virtual vote, with NDP and Liberals alleging intentional obstruction by Conservatives, while Conservatives cite practical challenges. The Speaker will investigate the disruptions, which caused the vote to become moot. 600 words, 10 minutes.
Alleged Breach of Privilege at Committee Members debate a question of privilege concerning a member's ability to move subamendments, a missed committee vote, and drafting report stage amendments, with an NDP MP arguing the claims are unfounded or self-inflicted. 1200 words.
Parliament of Canada Act Second reading of Bill S-202. The bill proposes creating a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate to promote Canadian arts and culture and advise the Library of Parliament. While supported by all parties, the Conservatives question its timing amid why the government would use a Senate public bill to advance such a matter, and the NDP contrasts it with more urgent issues like universal pharmacare. Proponents highlight art's role as a reflection of our Canadian identity and the Canadian soul and supporting the arts sector, particularly post-COVID. 3900 words, 25 minutes.
Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
Is this pertaining to question period? I would ask the member for Red Deer—Lacombe to get to his point of order.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Madam Speaker, in lieu of the answers that were given when the government was asked about foreign interference, we requested, in this letter I would like to table through unanimous consent, that the Minister of Public Safety appear for two hours. Do I—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, on a point of order relating to question period.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, I raised a question respecting committee agendas. I will note page 512 of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice specifically says that members may raise questions concerning matters before committee and that those questions are directed toward the committee chair. Page 512 reads:
Questions seeking information about the schedule and agenda of committees may be directed to Chairs of committees. Questions to the Ministry or to a committee Chair concerning the proceedings or work of a committee, including its order of reference, may not be raised. Thus, for example, a question would be disallowed if it dealt with a vote in committee....
The question I raised was very clearly dealing with the agenda of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. I will note various examples that are in the footnote: “for example, Debates, May 20, 1970, pp. 7126-7; November 4, 1981, p. 12499; March 9, 1987, p. 3955”. Various points continue.
The footnote continues:
In the 2008 example, the Liberal House Leader rose...on a point of order and asked the Speaker if someone other than the Chair of a committee could respond to a question concerning the agenda of a committee. The Speaker advised that his role is to “take a look at those who are standing to answer and choose who is going to answer”. He indicated that he had recognized the Government House Leader because he was the only Member rising to respond and that it seemed preferable for the Member asking the question to get an answer than none at all.
However, in this particular case, there was no opportunity given for the chair or vice-chairs of the committee to rise. Sadly, the right of members to raise questions to committee chairs is becoming in practice almost irrelevant because, every time members have raised these kinds—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The hon. member is getting into debate now. He has raised his point of order. As he has indicated, others who rise can be recognized, but no one else rose. There was plenty of opportunity for anybody to rise, so the individual who actually rose is the individual who was recognized.
The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Respectfully, on the facts, Madam Speaker, I believe someone may have been trying to get the attention of the Chair online. I cannot say for sure, because I was not online and I am here, but I—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
There were no hands raised online. As I indicated, I recognized the person who wanted to answer that question.
The hon. member for Louis‑Saint‑Laurent.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, during question period, a number of my colleagues and I asked questions about carbon pricing. We indicated that the Parliamentary Budget Officer had prepared a report.
I would ask for unanimous consent to table the document of May 18, 2023, entitled—
Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The hon. member for Calgary Forest Lawn is rising on a point of order relating to question period.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Madam Speaker, I rise to seek unanimous consent, following question period, to table witness testimony from the finance committee from May 17—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South is rising on a point of order relating to question period.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Madam Speaker, my point of order is with respect to the Minister of Tourism. I had intended to raise this issue earlier.
The Minister of Tourism, in responding to a question, said, “it is so nice to have so many friends from the blue team from Alberta”. This is doing indirectly what he cannot do directly. Of course, members cannot comment on the presence or absence of a member.
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
I do not believe it was directed to anybody in particular, but I want to remind members to be careful when they make comments in the House. Again, it was not directed at any one member in particular.
The hon. member for Simcoe—Grey is rising on a point of order related to question period.
Terry Dowdall Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Madam Speaker, during question period, there was a lot of discussion, and all parliamentarians are concerned with the food banks and the budget coming up. I hope to get unanimous consent to table HungerCount policy recommendations so that everyone has the opportunity to read them. Hopefully—
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John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Madam Speaker, as you know, it is a long-standing practice in this House that important government documents are tabled in this place. I would note that typically a minister of the Crown does table government reports in this House. It is a rubric in Routine Proceedings. I would note that the Right Hon. David Johnston's report on foreign interference was never tabled in this House, despite it being a report directly asked for by the Prime Minister.
The Liberals seem to be very proud of the rapporteur, so I would seek unanimous consent to table the David Johnston report on foreign interference.
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to table the report?
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Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order arising from question period.
I posed two questions to the government relating to the testimony of the Prime Minister's national security adviser, Jody Thomas, and the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, who was then minister of public safety.
I am seeking the unanimous consent of this House to table the blues from yesterday, wherein the national security adviser indicated that three deputy ministers, as well as her office, had received the memo indicating that the member for Wellington—Halton Hills and his family had been targeted by the Beijing regime, and the further testimony of the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, who incredibly claimed that it was CSIS's fault that he had not read a memo that was sent to him and his chief of staff also indicating that the member for Wellington—Halton Hills was a target of the Beijing regime.
We have a Prime Minister who—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
This seems to be more a point of debate.
Can the hon. member come to his point?