I can assure you that our intentions to see a modernized Senate are quite sincere. But I can also assure you that if those efforts prove to be frustrated, our preference is not to go out there and complain about it; our preference would be, if it is fully blocked, to go the path that your party indicates and ask Canadians to explore the options for abolition. Perhaps that's something that this committee, in its wisdom, can look at as well.
We've given you broad latitude by putting this here before second reading. Perhaps that whole issue is something that can be canvassed as part of your study: whether abolition is the appropriate step right now or whether reform change in terms of democratization of the Senate is an appropriate step to take. Between those, I think honest, intelligent debate could take place. I think that would be worthy work for this committee.
What I fear will happen, and I hope it won't, is that those who like an unelected, unaccountable Senate because it serves their political ends—it's a great place to pay off your buddies who have done working campaigns and so on--