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.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The question is on the motion.
If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Madam Speaker, I logged into the app. It did not work. I would like to register my vote as no.
It was a technical issue.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
Given that individuals had so many problems, I am going to make sure that we ask the technical team to look at this to make sure that it was not intentional on the part of members.
The table will now compile the results of the vote.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Madam Speaker, on a point of order, I would urge you, in light of the circus that just transpired, to fully investigate this vote.
We have functioned for three years on an honour system around virtual voting and virtual Parliament, and Conservatives have actually used the virtual Parliament more than any other party. I find it difficult to accept that today that there is some mystery virus that has impacted only Conservatives and has not impacted members of the Bloc, the NDP, the Liberals or the Greens. The fact that we have had repeated disruptions is equivalent, in the virtual world, to a member in this House throwing their chair across the House and setting fire to their desk.
If there was some mystery virus that hit only Conservatives—
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
We have had so many problems. I will endeavour to have the team look into this.
I have to recognize someone from other than the official opposition. The hon. parliamentary secretary has a point of order.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, you made a comment that you will review what has taken place, and we appreciate that. I would point out that there is a rule regarding contempt of Parliament, and this does need to be looked at if members were participating here in an intentionally inappropriate way through the voting application. That would be a contempt of Parliament. We would appreciate the Speaker taking note of this and reporting back to the House.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
I appreciate the information. As I have indicated, I will have the technical team look into why there were so many technical difficulties.
In order for the hon. official opposition House leader to speak, he would have to have a headset. He may want to ask somebody else to speak on his behalf.
The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Madam Speaker, on this point of order, we have had a number of accusations thrown around. I think everyone in this place understands that we are in a work environment where we are combining different time zones and different Internet capacity and that on Fridays we do not have votes. That is understood.
I was at an event in Ottawa at one point and my phone would not work. It kept spinning and would not allow me to take a picture. We should be giving the benefit of the doubt to hon. members in this place. A review would be helpful, but I would also like hon. members to act honourably. All members have these challenges when working virtually, and to imply that certain members are in contempt of Parliament is straying into more partisan lines. This is a practical matter, and I hope the review is a practical one, not a partisan one.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
As I indicated, there will be a request to have our technical team look into this. I hope that satisfies everybody so we can move on with orders of the day.
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Madam Speaker, I would like to point out that the obstruction happened before the vote as well. I did the whip walk, and for the first time ever in this House that I have seen, it was done by—
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
That is not a point of order. As we have seen, sometimes it has not occurred that the two whips walk to the table.
There is a point of order by the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Madam Speaker, there is contempt. There is contempt for the lack of democratic process in this Liberal budget. That is what there is—
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
That is not a point of order; it is a point of debate.
The hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Madam Speaker, in your investigation for the technical event that took place, I would ask you to consider that the member from the NDP who rose, when the New Democrats were in the official opposition, used dilatory motions and stall tactics—
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Madam Speaker, prior to question period, I was hoping to weigh in on a question of privilege that had been raised earlier. I thought this might be—
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
That is on my list of things to do, but we are not quite there yet.
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada is rising on another point of order.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Madam Speaker, I believe we have gone to orders of the day. We have a private member's bill that is scheduled to go forward, and out of courtesy to the member, which we always give to those who bring forward private member's bills, it is important that we give due consideration and time for that.
I would respectfully ask my colleagues to move forward, and if there are further submissions on this matter, perhaps we can take it up at a later time.
Technical Issues Raised During the Taking of Recorded DivisionPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
The House has just completed a vote on a motion to move to orders of the day. At the time the vote started, the motion was in order as there was still time remaining under Government Orders today. The Chair cannot interrupt the vote once it is under way. However, due to the length of the taking of the recorded division, we have now passed the time allotted to Government Orders; therefore, the terms of the motion are moot.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Madam Speaker, I request that the ordinary hour of daily adjournment of the next sitting be 12 midnight, pursuant to order made Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
In addition, I am tabling the government's responses to Questions Nos. 1399 to 1404.
