Order. Before we proceed to the next business, I would like to make a brief statement which may be of assistance to hon. members.
I wish to take this opportunity to welcome all members back to the House for what I am sure will be an interesting and no doubt vigorous session.
I have in hand letters from the leaders and House leaders of the former Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties requesting that 15 Progressive Conservative members and all Canadian Alliance members be henceforth recognized as Conservative members and be seated together in the chamber.
As a result, seats have been reallocated following the usual practices. As the largest party in opposition to the government in the House, the Conservative Party shall be styled the official opposition. I have been informed that the hon. member for Macleod is the leader of the official opposition.
As hon. members know, it has been our practice that individual members have the right to decide for themselves their party affiliation. A number of members of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance have decided not to participate in the union of the two parties and have informed me that they wish to sit as independent members. Here again, in accordance with House practice, the Chair has acceded to these requests, allocated each of these members a seat in the chamber, and noted how they wish henceforth to be designated.
If there are any issues of a procedural nature arising out of this realignment here in the Chamber, they can be dealt with as circumstances require. As Speaker, I will, of course, deal with any matters raised by members in conformity with our rules and practices.