The House resumed from December 6 consideration of the motion.
House of Commons Hansard #385 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was indigenous.
House of Commons Hansard #385 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was indigenous.
The House resumed from December 6 consideration of the motion.
Opposition Motion—Cost of Living Relief for CanadiansBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mr. Singh relating to the business of supply.
The question is as follows.
May I dispense?
Opposition Motion—Cost of Living Relief for CanadiansBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
No.
Opposition Motion—Cost of Living Relief for CanadiansBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, during this important vote for the NDP to ensure that the GST was taken off family essentials, home heating and telecom, the leader of the official opposition ran away; he fled the scene. He could not come up—
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 30 minutes.
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order coming out of question period.
I am afraid that an extremely dangerous precedent is being set with respect to how you, Mr. Speaker, are allowing questions to continue when they are clearly not about the administration of business. Today, we had a number of Conservatives bringing up issues and talking about the NDP for the entire question. Finally, at the end of the question, they said, for instance, “Will the Prime Minister let the NDP leader do something?” However, this was clearly not in line with government business.
I go back to my question from a week and a half ago. I started by talking clearly about government measures. My question started, “Mr. Speaker, last week our government announced measures”, and it went on. At the end of my question, I specifically asked the Prime Minister why the leader of the official opposition should allow his MPs to vote in favour of that legislation. Somehow, Mr. Speaker, you deemed my question out of order, but when we see what is going on today, you routinely allow those questions to stand.
Finally, I would like to add the following. I think that—
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, to conclude, one of the things you are doing, which I think is a huge mistake, is to allow an entire question to be asked, and then say that you see the minister rising on his or her feet. When you do that, of course somebody has to provide a response, but it neglects the fact that the question had nothing to do with the administration of business.
I asked this last week, on Friday, and I have asked it routinely. Once again, I would ask that you go back, consider all of this, consider other interventions that have been made and come back to the House with a concrete ruling that we can then rely on.
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, I just noticed the virtually unprecedented attack on a sitting chair occupant in real time.
As the member should know, if he has specific complaints about the actions of a chair occupant, he should put it in a formal motion. However, when that was done in this chamber, the member voted against that motion. I just wanted to point that out.
I would also point out that, many times in the House, we hear Liberal members who have entire preambles to questions or asks that have nothing to do with government business. Sometimes they have both. However, you, Mr. Speaker, have allowed those questions to stand. Nevertheless, having the guidance that you gave, we did not get up afterwards and challenge your ruling or insult your ability to handle question period. We just simply adapted and followed the precedents that you have set out for the chamber.
I would say that it is absolutely relevant and within the purview of government to ask the Prime Minister what promises, policies or deals he offered another party in order to keep its support so that he can stay in power. That is exactly what those questions were today. I just find it shameful that the parliamentary secretary for the government House leader would challenge your authority and your ability to handle question period, Mr. Speaker.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a problem. My seat is a ways away from yours and when members of the House are bringing forward points of order for your consideration, I often cannot hear what those points of order are, even with my earpiece, because the Conservatives are causing such an uproar. I have to say it appears that sometimes decisions are being made by the Table based on how much uproar and rude behaviour we see from the Conservatives. My perspective is that the loudest, squeakiest, whiniest wheels in the House should not be the ones to dictate the behaviour of the House.
When I cannot even hear what those points of order are because Conservative members of the House seem to feel they have the right to instruct you on what your decision will be, Mr. Speaker, that is a problem because it means that I cannot participate fully as a member of Parliament.
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Mr. Speaker, on that same point of order, even though I am a little closer to you, during question period, I was unable to hear what was going on because of the way members of the New Democratic Party, specifically the member for New Westminster—Burnaby and the member for Timmins—James Bay, were carrying on, giving instruction to the Speaker and making it very difficult for members, even on this side, to hear what the Speaker was saying.
The whip of the New Democratic Party has folks within her own area she needs to address her concerns to because it is obstructing the business of the House.
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have to say this is very rich coming from my colleague, the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle, who, when he was Speaker from 2011 to 2015, systematically cut off any question that did not deal with government administration after 10 or 12 seconds. This was the “Scheer doctrine”, so to speak. During that period, if we did not—
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, if it was established that it did not have to do with government administration at the beginning of the question, the question was cut off halfway through. Conservatives know this. That is what was put into place.
Conservatives need to respect the rules of the House and you should use the tools you have, Mr. Speaker, to cut them off when it has nothing to do with government administration.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The Bloc Québécois has not had a chance to speak. The hon. member for Drummond.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, I find it quite rich to hear the NDP and the Conservatives passing the buck about who is disrupting the House the most. The Bloc Québécois sits between the two parties. Members on both sides are yelling and hurling insults at each other. There is clearly a lack of decorum in the House. This is not the first time we have risen to point that out.
Once again, I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker. Even during Statements by Members, we hear a lot of noise and conversation. During question period, it is absolutely unbearable. I think that all parties should make an effort. We ask for your vigilance on this.
We should be able to do our work with a modicum of decorum and respect for one another, and especially for the interpreters, who are finding it increasingly difficult to do their job because of the chaos in the House and the lack of respect among the parties.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay would like to make a short statement. I will give him the floor.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, I notice that I am allowed a short intervention. The issue speaks to our lack of faith. Every member should be treated fairly, and they are not. We have learned very quickly that, if the Conservatives create enough chaos, the Speaker bends to that. When New Democrats raise points of order, they are shut down. We are told to sit down. In fact, one of the only times I remember the Speaker standing up on a point was when my colleague was wearing a brooch, yet we have seen outrageous insults and attacks, and that is considered okay.
Everything is based on precedent. If the Speaker bends to toxicity, then New Democrats will fight back because we have the smallest number and the fewest questions. If the Speaker does not allow proper fairness and continues to bend to the Conservatives and their toxic behaviour, then there will be push-back, and it undermines the House.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Colleagues, I have entertained a round of questions from all the political parties here. First of all, a number of the issues raised are issues the Chair has engaged to come back to the House on, and the Chair, indeed, will be coming back very shortly. This is an issue we have been working on, and we will move very quickly on that front. I thank members for their interventions.
I recognize how important respect and decorum are to ensuring equal participation in the House.
The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands is rising on a point of order. I hope it will be new and relevant.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, in an effort to avoid bogging down the House, I do not rise to contribute to every debate. It does not mean that the Green Party of Canada does not exist in this place. The Speaker said that he had heard from all parties in this place. I try to be helpful, not invisible.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I thank the hon. member, and if the hon. member had risen, I certainly would have given her an opportunity to speak.