The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
I base
my decision on rule 41, "decorum during debate."
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
What, decorum! In court, it is the practice followed by every lawyer.
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The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
We are not in court.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
We are in
the highest court of the country.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
The hon. member is mistaken. The inquiiy he is making should take place in the public accounts' committee.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
The public
accounts' committee is but a subcommittee of the house.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
I am
not seeking a lesson in parliamentary procedure from the hon. member, I state that he is out of order.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
I am not
trying to teach the hon. chairman a lesson any more than he himself does to the judges when he pleads before them. At present, I am expressing my viewpoint and I contend that, as representative of a constituency in Canada, I am entitled to put any question to the hon. minister.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
The hon. member is not entitled to put any question to the hon. minister nor is the minister obliged to answer it.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
In court,
we cannot ask suggestive questions.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
We are not in court.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
I am, at
present, discussing a point of law. The minister does not figure in this, it is just as if he did not exist, moreover, it is the usual practice, the minister does not figure at present-I am simply discussing a point of law, a question of principle.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
I must call the hon. member to order. I gave my decision, he has but one thing to do if he is not satisfied: appeal from my decision.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
May I put
two questions to the hon. Postmaster General, in this respect?
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
I am
unable to judge. The hon. member is too old a parliamentarian, he knows that he cannot proceed in that manner.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
Quite the
contrary, it is because I know that I can proceed in that manner that I am doing so. However, if you insist-
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
That is not my opinion.
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Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
I respect
your opinion, sir, however, I think you are wrong.
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
If the
hon. member is not satisfied, he may appeal from my decision.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
Very well,
sir, I appeal from your decision.