Hon. Lucie Moncion: Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That Bill C-234 be not now read a third time, but that it be amended, in clause 2,

(a) on page 2, by replacing lines 24 to 37 with the following:

(b) on page 3, by deleting lines 1 to 9.

Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: In amendment, it was moved by the Honourable Senator Moncion, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, that Bill C-234 be not read a third time, but that it be amended in clause 2(a) on page 2 by replacing lines 24 to 37 with the following —

Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Point of order. I was standing. I thought Senator Clement wanted to either ask a question or go on debate. This is extremely rare and very unfair.

I was standing on debate and for Your Honour to allow somebody to move an adjournment motion while people are standing on debate is, I believe, definitely out of order.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Clement, you have a question?

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Wells, do you have a question?

The Hon. the Speaker: Leave to permit questions? Usually after an amendment we go on debate.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is there leave to allow questions?

Will you take a question, Senator Moncion?

Hon. Leo Housakos: Point of order.

Not only is this outrageous, I have never before seen in my time in this place someone get on their feet, move an amendment without debating on the amendment. The tradition in this place is you get up on debate, move your amendment, make your debate, take questions on your amendment and then you go into debate. Then, after that, we can try to adjourn because obviously we know what we are trying to do here.

The fact that we are skipping all of these other necessary steps — amend, debate, ask questions of the amender, go to other debates and then ask for a question? Come on, Your Honour, please.

Hon. David M. Wells: No, I was going to go on debate.

The Hon. the Speaker: I recognized Senator Clement.

It is moved by Senator Clement, seconded by Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that further debate be adjourned until the next sitting of the Senate. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Bernadette Clement: Was it a question?

Some Hon. Senators: Dispense.

An Hon. Senator: Dispense.

The Hon. the Speaker: I will repeat. (a) on page 2, by replacing lines — may I dispense?

The Hon. the Speaker: On debate, senator — honestly, Senator Clement?

The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you. The vote will take place at 5:03. Call in the senators.

An Hon. Senator: Not if we haven’t finished debate.

The Hon. the Speaker: Order. There are two senators rising. Do we have agreement on the bell?

Some Hon. Senators: Yes.

An Hon. Senator: You have the right to debate.