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House of Commons Emblem

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

NUMBER 039 
l
2nd SESSION 
l
41st PARLIAMENT 

EVIDENCE

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

(1210)

[English]

The Chair (Mr. Joe Preston (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC)):
    I call the meeting back to order.
    Mr. Christopherson, on your notice of motion, The chair is going to make a ruling on your notice of motion.
Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP):
    Can I read my motion?
The Chair:
    I think you probably are capable of that, yes.
Mr. David Christopherson:
    I meant now.
The Chair:
    Sure, really quickly, and then I'm going to rule against it.
Mr. David Christopherson:
    I know exactly what you're going to do, and I would just like an opportunity to maintain as many of my rights as I can.
    Chair, I move:
That, in conjunction with the Order of Reference from the House of Commons of Thursday, March 27, 2014, the Committee also conduct a study into the use of the Conservative Party of Canada Constituent Information Management System (CIMS) database as a voter suppression tool in the 2011 election, and that the Prime Minister be invited to appear before the Committee to answer questions related to the usages of the CIMS database, and that in preparation for these hearings the Conservative Party of Canada provide to the Committee a list of all attempts to access the CIMS database to download exclusive lists of non-conservative supporters in the period of April 15, 2011 to May 2, 2011.
The Chair:
    Thank you, Mr. Christopherson.
    Your chair will have to rule against your motion due to the fact that it is outside of the scope of this committee. It asks for a study of a political party, and that's not in the role of this committee.
Mr. David Christopherson:
    Chair, with the greatest of respect, I challenge the ruling of the chair.
The Chair:
    All right. We will move without debate directly to a vote on that.
Mr. David Christopherson:
    On a point of order on process, is there an opportunity for the two sides to be made before the vote takes place: why I'm asking for it, and the chair's position?
The Chair:
    When you challenge the chair, you go directly to a vote.
    The vote will be, and I'll have the clerk—
Mr. David Christopherson:
    Even though the Standing Orders clearly state that this is within our mandate, I can't make that case. You're just going to shut me down.
The Chair:
    I'm not arguing, David. Let's do the vote or let's finish the meeting, whichever you want.
    You challenged the chair, first of all. I know it's not right for the chair to take any offence to that. However, our playing well together has been hurt by this, so let's do the vote.
    Do we sustain the chair's ruling? An affirmative vote would be in favour of the chair's ruling.
    An hon. member: A recorded vote, please.
    (Ruling of the chair sustained [See Minutes of Proceedings])
    The Chair: The chair's ruling stands.
    Is there anything else for the good of the committee today?
    Seeing nothing, the meeting is adjourned.
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