Sharon MacKenzie, Kascha Cassaday, and Christian Harvey made statements and answered questions.

Tracy Gray moved, — That the committee resume consideration of her motion moved on Monday, January 29, 2024.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Scott Aitchison, Rosemarie Falk, Michelle Ferreri, Tracy Gray, Bonita Zarrillo — 5;

NAYS: Louise Chabot, Chad Collins, Michael Coteau, Peter Fragiskatos, Wayne Long, Tony Van Bynen — 6.

Questioning of Sharon MacKenzie, Kascha Cassaday, and Christian Harvey resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

At the December 4th committee meeting, Ms. Zarrillo raised a point of order and expressed her opinion that the motion moved by Ms. Gray on that day constituted a contempt of Parliament. She further explained her perspective that this motion asks the committee to “influence, intimidate and block fellow parliamentarians.”

I committed to take her point of order under advisement and I am now ready to render my decision to the committee. In making my decision, I was guided by a few principles.

First, the motion is a resolution. This means that it is the committee’s opinion and it does not require any action to be taken. As such, this motion is not binding on anyone.

Second, page 794 of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice says and I quote: “The rules of one House cannot be applied to the other, nor can one House compel the other to conduct its work in a specific manner or according to a specific timetable”.

Consequently, I consider that the motion is a resolution and expresses an opinion of the committee and is not binding on anyone. The motion in no way obliges the other House to carry out its work in a particular way or according to a specific timetable and finally, committee members are free to vote for or against this motion.

At 9:28 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:34 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.