I have a few comments left, Chair. One of the first comments I would like to make is about Mr. Angus's comment about democracy. One aspect of democracy in our system is that we have committees that are put in place to serve certain areas, including this ethics committee. As a member of Parliament, I get the right to debate motions put forward by opposition parties or by the government. In that vein, I get to debate and speak to those motions frankly until my thoughts are down. I totally agree with you, Chair, that it shouldn't sound too repetitious. I'm only providing what I feel are substantive comments and comments to aid in the deliberation of facts, and suggestions and opinions that will help me reach a conclusion on whether I can support or oppose a motion.
In reference to Mr. Angus's motion, we've gone through it. Yes, it's been a lot longer than many of us would have liked. I think we're in the 34th or 35th hour of debate, but a number of iterations have caused me to question the motion at hand. This is repetition, I will agree. We've had a mulligan of a second amendment, which I was not pleased to see because I thought we were down a path where we could have seen some unanimity, and when I say “unanimity”, I mean with a majority.
At the same time, unfortunately we got to another place where I'm having real difficulty, Chair. As I said, I was trying to be constructive today in putting forward the motion that I had, and it was defeated. There was no innuendo with my motion. I really want committee members to understand that. It was to reflect the privacy laws that exist both provincially and federally in our country. It was in that vein that I put forward the motion, and I am disappointed that it was not voted on.
It's 4:30 and I believe there are other members of the committee who wish to share their thoughts and opinions, and I'm happy to turn it over to them. I will raise my hand again and again, and in the Canadian way be polite and allow the person next in line to speak and share their thoughts and opinions, and then get back in line myself. I think that's the way our democracy works, and I think that's a healthy way of doing things.
I'm going to stop now, as it's 4:30, and yield the floor to the next speaker, and I will get back into line. I thank my committee members for judiciously and diligently listening to my words. I want to thank Ms. Gaudreau with sincere appreciation for her thoughts, and Deputy Angus whom I'm blessed to know. I'm really appreciative of his friendship more than anything, and I will continue, obviously, to be respectful of all my colleagues,
I will now yield the floor, Chair, to the next speaker.
Thank you for your time.