Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To correct the member from the Liberal Party, the amendments he's put forward in the last six hours have tried to undermine the PRPP, a system that would be available to over 60% of Canadians who currently do not have a workplace pension plan.
I would say to all members of the committee that as we sit here tonight and we listen to some of the regurgitated commentary by the Liberal Party, I ask myself how do we sit here as parliamentarians and continue to listen to this nonsense knowing there are over 50 public servants sitting here waiting to do their part to improve our country. Canadians at home don't see them, but I want Canadians to know, Mr. Chair, that with regard to this clause and with regard to this bill, there are some hard-working folks here. We appreciate everything they have done. We appreciate their patience as we listen to this nonsense.
I want to assure Canadians that on this side of the table, we do not agree with this kind of delay tactic with regard to the implementation of this very important bill. These clauses are here so we can protect the interests of Canadians.
The Liberal Party members have said tonight that they do not want to close tax loopholes, which is atrocious. They've said they do not want to allow the PRPP system to move forward, a system which would give Canadians without pension plans the option of saving for their retirement. The Liberal Party members have said they don't even understand their own amendments. They've put forward 3,000 of them that they've tried to vote down from even being considered here tonight. When they had an opportunity, they voted to send all these different topics from a budget bill to different committees for extensive and fulsome study. The Liberal Party is the only party that stood up and voted against doing so, and yet they're standing up again tonight trying to convince Canadians otherwise.
Canadians will not be fooled. I hope Canadians are watching this tonight because these 50 public servants sitting here, who should be appreciated for all they've done to make sure this bill helps Canadians and makes our country a better place, ought not to be put through this. Canadian taxpayers ought not to be put through this. Every moment of delay is another dollar out of a taxpayer's pocket.
As I look around this room and I see how many members of Parliament and how many clerks and how many analysts and how many translators and how many public servants are in this room listening to this delay for the sake of delay, it crushes me to know that Canadians are being robbed at this very moment by those who are supposed to be prudent parliamentarians with their interests at heart. It's despicable. It is not protecting the long-term interests of our country. I would urge the Liberal Party to stop this nonsense, to get on board to protect this country, because if the Liberals think 35 seats is just a fraction, I can't wait until the next election. I can assure them that Canadians are not going to forgive this one and the Liberals won't be left with many seats, except for maybe one.
Thanks.