I agree 100%. However, I am here presenting a private member's bill, and the rules around private members' bills are very specific. If I were to be here...well, number one, I wouldn't be, because it would have been ruled out of order because it would have required a royal recommendation if it involved a refundable tax credit. Again, I'm trying to pass a piece of legislation while working within the rules and the scope that are available to me. I would be ecstatic if the minister chose to come to me to say, “We're going to do this and we'll give you a royal recommendation for it.” I don't see that happening, to be quite honest.
As I said, we drafted a good bill. We've drafted a bill that is within the scope. I've seen a lot of bills over this last year that have the sentiment, that have a good intention, but are drafted poorly, and they had to be voted against, whether because of jurisdiction or because they were outside the scope of a PMB. We've all seen them, right? This is drafted to pass.
When I asked my staff, I said, “Let's brainstorm about ideas.” We had four buckets: is this something that is good for Cambridge? Is it something that's good for Canada? Is it something that I can hang my hat on and it makes sense for me to be presenting? Finally, can it pass? At the time, we had checked off all those boxes.
I agree with you, but unfortunately it's outside my capacity as a private legislator.