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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 301

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 17, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:04:50 p.m.
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It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Peace River—Westlock. [Members sang the national anthem]
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:25:50 p.m.
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I remind members to direct their questions through the Chair. The right hon. Prime Minister.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:31:05 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:35:43 p.m.
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There are some members in this place, who, like the Speaker, had difficulty hearing the member for Burnaby South ask his question. I am going to ask the member for Burnaby South to start his question again. I am going to ask all members on all sides of the House to please hold themselves until they have the opportunity to be recognized by the Speaker to ask a question or to answer a question. The hon. member for Burnaby South.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:43:14 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 2:52:52 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:17:20 p.m.
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I would ask hon. members to please listen to their whips, so that we can listen to the question.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:21:21 p.m.
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It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, April 8, the House will now proceed to the appearance of Kristian Firth at the bar of the House.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:22:17 p.m.
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Colleagues, the Chair would like to make a brief statement in regard to the historic moment that is about to take place. Indeed, the last time an individual was summoned to the bar of the House to answer questions dates back to 1913, well over a century ago. Pursuant to order made on April 8, 2024, once Mr. Firth is escorted to the bar of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Chair shall read the admonishment. Following this, the House shall proceed to a question-and-answer session with Mr. Firth. The process for questioning, specified in the House order, is as follows. First, questions and answers shall be addressed through the Speaker. Second, 10 minutes will be allocated to each recognized party for the first and second rounds in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party. Third, during the third round, five minutes will be allocated to each of the recognized parties with an additional five minutes for the Green Party. Fourth, within each 10- or five-minute period of questioning, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members. Fifth, in each question and answer period, answers shall approximately reflect the time taken by the question. In addition, should Mr. Firth require a moment to consult with his counsel prior to responding to a question, or for other delays of a similar nature, the Chair will stop the clock. As well, as discussed with House leaders, provisions are in place for brief suspensions between the rounds of questioning to allow Mr. Firth a pause, if he chooses to avail himself of them. Furthermore, as with any proceedings of the House, the Chair will decide procedural matters as they may arise. Upon completion of the questioning, the Chair shall excuse Mr. Firth from further attendance at the bar, after which he will withdraw, and the House shall resume its usual business for the remainder of the sitting. Finally, colleagues, I wish to remind members that it is incumbent upon all of us to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting of this occasion and to uphold the dignity of the House. I therefore ask for everyone's co-operation in respecting our rules of decorum. I now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to admit Mr. Firth at the bar of the House.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:26:06 p.m.
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Mr. Kristian Firth, please remain standing until I invite you to be seated. You are attending the bar of the House for being found in contempt for your refusal to answer certain questions and for prevaricating in your answers to other questions before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. You are here today, by order of the House, for the following purposes: First, to receive an admonishment for your refusal to respond to questions posed to you by the committee; second, to provide responses to the questions referred to in the committee's 17th report; and third, to response to supplemental questions. The privileges of the House of Commons are enshrined in The Constitution Act, 1867, and in the Parliament of Canada Act. This includes the right to institute inquiries and to require the attendance of witnesses. Under the Standing Orders of the House, they are also exercised by its committees within their respective mandates. These privileges, enjoyed by the House collectively and by members individually, are essential in the discharge of our duties. The House has the power, and indeed the obligation, to reaffirm them when obstruction or interference impedes the House's proceedings and the ability of members to carry out their parliamentary duties. That is precisely what the House has ordered the Speaker, as the guardian of these rights and privileges, to do today: to reprimand you, to reprimand your contempt for refusing to answer questions put to you by the committee and for prevaricating other questions. For all these reasons, on behalf of the House of Commons, I admonish you. In addition, the House orders you to respond to the questions you refused to answer in committee, in whole or in part, and to respond to any supplementary questions. Mr. Firth, I would like to remind you that you must answer all questions that are posed to you. I would also like to remind you, and everyone listening, that everything you say as part of these proceedings is protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot be used against you in any other forums. The Chair is aware that you have been briefed on this process. You may now be seated. The House will now proceed with its questions. The House will now proceed to the first round of questions. Each recognized party will have 10 minutes. I wish to remind hon. members again that all questions are to be addressed through the Chair. The hon. Leader of the Government.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:38:17 p.m.
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The hon. government House leader has the floor.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:40:01 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock for raising this issue. I see that the hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle is also rising on his feet for a point of order.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:41:39 p.m.
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I thank the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle and I thank the member for South Surrey—White Rock for raising these points. I would like to emphasize to all members the importance of how we conduct ourselves. Canadians are clearly watching this historic event, and they would expect us to conduct ourselves in a way that befits the occasion. With that in mind, I invite the hon. government House leader to finish his remarks.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:42:37 p.m.
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I will take it then that we can move on to the next series of questions. The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:47:19 p.m.
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Mr. Firth, do you need time to consult with your counsel?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:47:33 p.m.
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The clock is stopped. Could the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes please repeat the question?
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:48:11 p.m.
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The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby is rising on a point of order.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:48:32 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby. Indeed, that is the case. I will ask the hon. member if he could reframe his question. It is a pertinent question as it is. The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes has the floor.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 3:55:03 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Limoilou.
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Context: House Hansard - 301 - Apr/17/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/17/24 4:02:05 p.m.
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I will stop the clock. The hon. member for Beauport—Limoilou.
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