Finance committee  I'm looking for any indication on that [Inaudible—Editor]

Finance committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'll just return to the point I made prior to the....

Finance committee  We could call it the Easter-Richards rule.

Finance committee  To resume debate.

Finance committee  Maybe if you could just let me finish with the point, and then you can determine whether it is or isn't a point of order in your estimation.

Finance committee  Given that he wouldn't be able to participate in the debate should it occur now—obviously it's his amendment and it's quite a significant amendment—what I would ask is that in the interest of fairness to the member this be something we discuss when he is able to be a part of that conversation.

Finance committee  Possibly, but I guess it's an appeal either way. It's a point of appeal. How about that, Mr. Chair?

Finance committee  Yes, the point of order, point of appeal, the Richards-Easter rule or whatever you want to call it. It does concern me. I know this is something that my colleague Mr. Kmiec had a great degree of interest in, to the point that he crafted an amendment that is quite lengthy and detailed.

Finance committee  It's been going on over portions of three different meetings, which obviously indicates that my colleague had some significant thoughts and concerns. I raised some. I know others on both sides raised a fair bit of debate on this, as well, but certainly, the person who had the greatest degree of interest in debating exactly what the motion looked like was my colleague Mr.

Finance committee  I do still have a point of order. I was just needing to get some clarity as to where things were before I could move forward with my point. My understanding of that is that you gave us an indication of the original motion, there was an amendment that Mr. Fergus had made and then the lengthy subamendment that Mr.

Finance committee  It was a subamendment was it not?

Finance committee  Okay. There were two different amendments made and we were on the first amendment. Then if that one was to pass or fail, depending on what happened, would we then move to the other amendment that was proposed?

Finance committee  Okay, but the bottom line is that what we're currently contemplating is Mr. Kmiec's lengthy amendment which the chair just read.

Finance committee  Understood. Before we do that, Mr. Chair, on the point of order, obviously this is a topic my colleague Mr. Kmiec has had a fair bit of concern and debate around. Obviously, he's made this significant amendment as a result of that. Given that the conversation has been ongoing for some period of time and Mr.

Finance committee  Okay. Regardless of that, Mr. Kmiec would not have the opportunity to participate in the debate should we move forward with this.