The taxpayer has paid for me to get here this morning and will be paying for me to get back this afternoon.
I will not be supporting the motion that's in front of us. I want to be clear that it's not because of some of the amendments that were put forward in terms of the ways and means motion that's in front of the House of Commons, because I do support the ways and means motion that is coming forward.
The fact is that this is complete political grandstanding. We all know it around here. Anybody watching at home will know this.
First of all, they tried to say we're trying to do a report, get there in advance, and so on and so forth, and then they admit we are going to have another meeting after the bill comes back. How can we debate something without seeing the wording and what's going to happen? It does not make any sense. It is completely not the way of doing things. If they have issues with how the ways and means motion is actually presented in terms of dealing with income trusts, then they'll have the wording and then they can discuss the issues properly. The witnesses could discuss the issues properly. But that does not exist. It will not exist until after that happens. So they're playing games trying to have these pre-meetings. Based on the numbers, it's likely going to pass. It's not passing because I'm supporting it.
I have quoted in the record where the Honourable John McCallum was on television nationwide, saying we're doing the right thing on income trusts. He was absolutely saying the right thing, so why doesn't he wait for the legislation to come like any other process would occur? But no, political grandstanding.
I've heard from the Bloc, I've heard from the NDP. I know from our side we agree with this in principle, with what we were doing. In principle it goes to second reading, then it comes to committee. Why are we not following that process? They're trying to fool with the process, trying to play games, get their names in the headlines. They should read the Globe and Mail today, which says to quit gnawing at the income trust issue. The editorial is clear: that this government has made a move on it, and we will bring forward legislation in writing so people will understand what's happening, and that's when it should happen. We shouldn't be screwing with the markets like we are today.