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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 205

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 2, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 205 - Jun/2/23
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)
  • Jun/2/23 10:21:35 a.m.
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Some of what the hon. member is bringing up is debate. I would just ask him to get to his point of order without bringing debates into the matter. The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.
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Context: House Hansard - 205 - Jun/2/23
Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Jun/2/23 12:17:25 p.m.
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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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