I hope the chair will take due time to consider this matter and consider it seriously. I'd like Mr. Tilson and all members to consider what they're suggesting. What's being suggested--and I know it's common practice and it's well accepted--is that if a member of any committee has a pecuniary interest in a matter that is being debated at the committee, they recuse themselves...if they have a family business interest in that thing.
As to alleged, supposed, proposed, maybe, might be legal action, personal legal action, against a member of the committee, I don't know that that would meet that test. I think if we did succumb to that, it wouldn't be very long before we would have 308 lawsuits in this House of Commons against everybody for minor matters, dilatory matters, to try to remove members of Parliament from being able to debate questions of interest where it would serve somebody out in society better to have them not participate.
So in the interest of democracy, Mr. Chairman, and of parliamentary tradition, I hope you have a serious look at this preposterous suggestion by Mr. Tilson.
The second question I ask is, how could Mr. Tilson possibly be aware of a legal action that I'm not aware of?