Thanks very much, Chair.
I appreciate that, because if there had been a willingness of Liberal members, including that member, we could have had a very productive last two meetings that would not have been spent talking about the need to ensure that all members of this committee, including the member from Brantford—Brant.... That's something I would emphasize here, and hopefully, I can make this point very briefly.
One of the things about the protection of privilege is that it applies to all members, so I would ask all members of this committee and all those who are watching to consider this carefully. If they're okay with a member being silenced because they ask tough questions, this is a reasonable path forward. However, I'm not comfortable with that, Chair. That includes members of the government, of the official opposition and of the two other opposition parties here.
Further to that, I find it somewhat rich coming from that member.... I believe it was he who moved to adjourn a committee meeting that was scheduled during a break, which would have given this committee the opportunity to be productive. It's interesting that they would be so critical of the fact that I believe—and I am certainly hopeful—the case I have made emphasizes the need to ensure that we do not allow a committee member to be censured for asking tough questions. That's what it comes down to here.
We need to make sure that MPs are allowed to question their government, as it is a fundamental tenet of our democratic system. When it comes to the work that committees need to do, we absolutely need to get to work, as I'm proud to have been able to do during the course of the committee meeting here today, and will be happy to do each and every opportunity I have.
When it comes to the hypocrisy that exists, would you have that member suggest that somehow it's not relevant to talk about the need to protect members so that they can question his boss? Mr. Chair, I think that question answers itself.
Let's make sure that as we are tasked as members of Parliament to.... This unwritten rule....
In fact, I had a chance to meet a constituent who's a former Olympic coach. She gave me a card that she hands out to everybody she meets. It says, “Leave it better than you found it.” My exhortation to every member of this committee is let's make sure we leave it better than we found it, and that includes the rules of this committee.