REPORT, SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE OMBUDSMAN (CONCLUDED)

The House resumed at 8 p.m.

REPORT, SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE OMBUDSMAN (CONCLUDED)

Resuming the adjourned debate on the motion for adoption of the recommendations contained in the ninth report of the select committee on the Ombudsman, 1981.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Cousens): Does any member wish to participate in this debate?

Mr. Worton: Call for a quorum, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker ordered the bells to be rung.

8:06 p.m.

The Acting Speaker: We are resuming the adjourned debate on the motion for adoption of the recommendations contained in the ninth report of the select committee on the Ombudsman.

Mr. J. M. Johnson: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to point out that when the quorum was called there were only two Liberals in attendance and not one New Democrat.

The Acting Speaker: Let us restrict points of order to true points of order. Does any honourable member wish to participate in this debate?

Mr. Boudria: Mr. Speaker, if I remember correctly, when we adjourned the debate a number of weeks ago when we were making general comments on this report, I believe I was speaking at the time and that I had almost concluded my remarks. I hope it is not my speaking that has just chased out quite a few of our members; but then again maybe it is.

Mr. Barlow: It is. Do you get the message now, Don?

Mr. Boudria: Do you have a point of order?

Interjection.

Mr. Boudria: Oh. As some of my colleagues and various members have mentioned, we have expressed concern in the past about the incidents that have happened over the last few months in relation to the Office of the Ombudsman and some of the disagreements that seem to have occurred.

Mr. Philip: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I do not want to interrupt the speaker, because I know he has some interesting things to say, but now that the Conservatives have all disappeared

I notice we do not have a quorum again.

The Acting Speaker: Are you calling for a quorum call, or are you just making an observation?

Mr. Philip: I am calling for a quorum call.

The Acting Speaker: Is there a quorum?

Assistant Clerk: Mr. Speaker, a quorum is not present.

The Acting Speaker ordered the bells to be rung.

8:12 p.m.

The Acting Speaker: A quorum is present.

The member for Prescott-Russell has already had the pleasure of speaking on this motion and so is not allowed to speak a second time.

Mr. Treleaven: Mr. Speaker, when these quorum calls have been disturbing the committees, there is a position being taken by one of the opposition parties that it is the duty of the government to supply the quorum for this House. So that --

The Acting Speaker: The honourable member must realize that any member can ask for a quorum at any time. That is within the rules of the House and that has been done.

I call now for the first member to speak to the issue before the House.

Mr. Treleaven: Mr. Speaker, it is the standing orders -- in the justice committee we are under mandatory instructions to carry out our duties --

The Acting Speaker: I am not recognizing the member for Oxford. Is there an honourable member --

Mr. J. M. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order: You made a ruling that any responsible member would have to answer a quorum call. I submit that they are not responsible.

The Acting Speaker: We are here to review and continue the debate on the adoption of the recommendations contained in the ninth report of the select committee on the Ombudsman.

The member for Prescott-Russell has already spoken on this. I will not recognize that member.

Mr. Boudria: I had not finished my comments. I moved the adjournment of the debate, if my memory serves me right, and you have previously --

The Acting Speaker: The honourable member has completed his position. On November 4, on page 4936 of Hansard, he says, "In conclusion, I would like to say ..." and it was the government House leader who moved adjournment of the debate.

Does any other honourable member wish to participate in this debate? The member for Windsor-Sandwich.

Mr. Wrye: I have to go to committee.

The Acting Speaker: Does any other honourable member wish to participate in this debate?

Mr. Runciman has moved the adoption of the recommendations contained in the ninth report of the select committee of the Ombudsman. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at 8:15 p.m.