Ahmed Al-Rawi, Richard Frank and Peter Loewen made statements and answered questions.

Michael Barrett moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h) and in light of new media reports, the committee undertake an immediate study into Minister Randy Boissonnault’s allegations of fraud and contravention of ethics and lobbying laws; that the committee invite Minister Randy Boissonnault for three hours, Kirsten Poon, Stephen Anderson of Global Health Imports and the Ethics Commissioner to testify individually, in addition to any other relevant witnesses; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the motion admissible, but that it be debated after the business currently under consideration is completed.

Whereupon, Michael Barrett appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Parm Bains, Pam Damoff, Darren Fisher, Matthew Green, Anthony Housefather, Iqra Khalid, René Villemure — 7;

NAYS: Michael Barrett, Larry Brock, Damien C. Kurek — 3.

Pam Damoff moved, — That the study of disinformation and misinformation be extended by three meetings.

Debate arose thereon.

Michael Barrett moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

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

YEAS: Michael Barrett, Larry Brock, Damien C. Kurek — 3;

NAYS: Parm Bains, Pam Damoff, Darren Fisher, Matthew Green, Anthony Housefather, Iqra Khalid, René Villemure — 7.

The debate continued on the motion of Pam Damoff.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion moved earlier today by Michael Barrett which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h) and in light of new media reports, the committee undertake an immediate study into Minister Randy Boissonnault’s allegations of fraud and contravention of ethics and lobbying laws; that the committee invite Minister Randy Boissonnault for three hours, Kirsten Poon, Stephen Anderson of Global Health Imports and the Ethics Commissioner to testify individually, in addition to any other relevant witnesses; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

Debate arose.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and the result of the vote was announced:

YEAS: Michael Barrett, Larry Brock, Matthew Green, Damien C. Kurek, René Villemure — 5;

NAYS: Parm Bains, Pam Damoff, Darren Fisher, Anthony Housefather, Iqra Khalid — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion, as amended, was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to standing order 108(3)(h) and in light of new media reports, the committee invite, in the first place, the Minister Randy Boissonault for a one-hour meeting, and after, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Konrad Winrich von Finckenstein, for an hour.

Iqra Khalid gave notice of the following motion:

That, given the comments of the Leader of the Opposition last week in which he suggested he would use the notwithstanding clause if given the chance, and previous statements that the Conservative Party of Canada would require a digital ID to access content on the Internet, the committee report to the House that the committee:

(a) Recognizes the importance of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect the rights of all Canadians, including the right to privacy; and

(b) Opposes the federal Parliament’s use of the notwithstanding clause in all instances.