You guys are no fun at all.
That keeps happening around here. At least we have the amendment being moved. I will be supporting this amendment, and I certainly encourage my Conservative colleagues to consider it. I know that they have voted against every opposition motion to amend so far. I hope they recognize that I voted for some of their amendments, and I voted for some NDP amendments, because I try to consider which are reasonable, which will improve the bill and which will not.
I recall, in fact, a few weeks ago, when Mr. Rae was speaking in the House on this bill, that Mr. Moore was calling from across the way, saying, "I'll bet you $10,000 we'll accept significant amendments.” I should have taken him up on that bet. I could use that $10,000. I don't see significant amendments being passed that make substantive changes to this bill. This certainly would be a positive amendment.
I sympathize with my colleagues, considering that I know there's some fear of Mr. O'Connor. I appreciate that. He's a pretty stern guy, and maybe they want to stay on whatever committee they're on, or they feel they're just a short time away from going into cabinet. I should tell them that I appreciate that. The cabinet experience is certainly an interesting one, but it can be very ephemeral. It can be fleeting. It can last only a short time, if you get there at all, and there's no certainty of getting there in this business.
So I hope they will reconsider their position, and take on their responsibilities as MPs to be here, to think seriously about amendments, and not just vote as they are told by the Prime Minister's Office.