Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in my capacity as Member for North Slave and also the chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, I am also concerned with our new legislative process whereby bills, after second reading, go to a standing committee. Madam Speaker, as you know this is a new
process which was adopted only two years ago. I feel after yesterday's events concerning first and second reading of bills, we have to look at our process for the passage of legislation.
Madam Speaker, although our rules do provide that bills, under certain circumstances, can be given notice, first and second reading on the same day, I feel that yesterday, whether it was the intention of the government to endeavour to ram bills through three stages in one day, causes me great concern as an infringement on my privileges as a Member.
Madam Speaker, the government's actions yesterday did not afford Members the opportunity to review bills after first reading so that a debate as to the principle of the bill could take place at the second reading stage. I feel, Madam Speaker, that although I nayed the progress of a bill yesterday, I am sure other Members would have supported me had they realized the implications of allowing the bill to go ahead.
Madam Speaker, I have serious concerns with yesterday's events, which I could have raised as a point of privilege. But I was fortunate enough to get support from my colleague for Inuvik to assist me in deferring yesterday's process. Madam Speaker, I have instructed our researcher for Rules, Privileges and Procedures to research this whole issue and report back to the committee, and I will be following it up at a later date. Thank you.