DENIED – Debate on High Speed Internet

At the Standing Committee on Education and Economic Development on September 15, 2016, I was denied the chance to speak to a motion, because the chair wanted to “move on”.  The chair recognized me before the question was called, and then did not allow me to express my views on behalf of my constituents.

Here is the audio clip.  To give context, I’ve left in a minute or so before I was denied the opportunity to speak.

The motion on the floor was one by Steven Myers asking the committee to issue a warrant for all payments made by government to Bell Aliant since the inception of the untendered 2008 contract signed with the province.  Here are the speakers you will hear:

• Sidney MacEwen (like me, not a member of the committee, but sitting in for the discussion),
• Committee chair Bush Dumville,
• Committee member Kathleen Casey (suggesting a letter be sent which could delay the process of getting the information – possible a stall tactic),
• Committee member Matthew MacKay (asking the committee call the Minister to speed up the process – something that chair Bush Dumville did previously to get the redacted Bell Aliant contract),
• Committee member Steven Myers (agreeing with Matthew),
• Dumville calling MacKay’s suggestion “ridiculous”, and general exclamations of disagreement from non-government members
• Committee member Hal Perry saying “let’s be reasonable”, and Dumville echoing this “come on now”
• Myers reminding Dumville that it was “reasonable” to bring the contract forward
• Dumville confused by the discussion, “where are we”, and directing discussion back to motion on the floor
• Myers indicating he disagrees with Casey’s suggestion, and will present his motion as originally put forward
• Casey calling for the “question” (when any committee member feels that discussion has gone on long enough they can ask that the vote be held)
• In background (mic turned off), Brad Trivers asking to speak to the motion at the same time Casey is calling for the vote
• Dumville shutting down debate, confused again, and either Perry or committee member Sonny Gallant indicating that it the chair’s discretion to shut down debate
• Trivers insisting that he was in before the chair called for the vote, and Dumville “shutting you down”
• The ensuing fray where Trivers insisted he be heard, Gallant insisting the question had been called, and then Trivers asked by Dumville to leave

The full audio of this Standing Committee meeting can be found at: