Thank you, and thank you, sir, for being here today.
It's been interesting to hear some of the questions, I would suggest bordering on hysterical, as to the approach. When we look at the situation we have now, there is no consultation whatsoever. There's an unfettered ability for the Prime Minister to make partisan appointments without any limit. In this bill we have an opportunity for Canadians to consult and for Canadians to have input.
As you have rightly pointed out, although in my time sitting here the issue keeps coming forward, and I think it was even raised in the last round, why don't we just elect senators; why don't we just elect them directly? Well, the problem with that, as is the problem with the preferred course of the NDP, which would be the abolition of the Senate, is that there would have to be a constitutional amendment. You've rightly pointed out that this is a way of consulting with Canadians, but as the constitutional experts we had here before pointed out, to go far beyond that would involve a conflict with our Constitution.
I have a couple of questions.
Roughly, what is the cost now of a general election?