Madam Chair, to answer that question I have to say quite honestly that the only surprise I've had in being in the Senate since October is that they are, if anything, more partisan than the House of Commons. That surprised me. In fact, from conversations with some of the existing senators—and I will not name any, because I do not believe in criticizing individual senators—right now I'd have to say that they consider themselves to be the opposition to the government, which puzzles me because I think in the House of Commons there are three parties that are in opposition to the government right now. So I don't know why they would be.
When I investigated this with some of the parliamentary librarians, I found that they were not the opposition to the government some years ago; they were more of a sober second thought. But right now, I believe honestly that the Senate is controlled by the two leaders of the government in that other place--as we're allowed to refer to it. I believe they control the Senate.