Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Obviously I think the subamendment moved by Mr. Tilson is entirely reasonable on a whole number of different levels, not the least of which is that this practice that the committee intends to look into is not a new one. Indeed, it has been the practice of the Bloc Québécois for more than a decade. Certainly the Liberal Party is well documented, as is the NDP, as using this exact practice, transferring money from central campaigns to regional campaigns for buys and transferring those funds back. I think we've documented that well. I have a great documented case that I'll bring up a little later with respect to the original mover of the motion.
I do think that, obviously, if we're going to be looking into this, if this committee is to have any legitimacy at all, it needs to do so in a fashion that's fair to all parties, that's objective, and that hopes to come out with a conclusion that has some article of truth to it and not just a rag that reeks of partisanship.
I think this is obviously a reasonable subamendment and something that I believe all parties should support. As I said the other night, if all parties truly want to have voters in their constituencies respecting parties and the political system that we have here in Canada, all parties should be prepared to stand by their election financing records and those of their public office holders in demonstrating that if they are going to be in judgment of the Conservative Party, their own record on this is somehow different. Our position is that it's not.
I think this subamendment further seeks to clarify the main motion, as well as the amendment, and should be supported.