Mr. Chair, I won't take much time. I also want to ensure we get to other business.
After hearing our interventions today, after what we heard in the summer, after what we heard most recently, after we've had royal commissions, books written, etc., I think it is time for our government to act.
I want to say this directly to government members. I don't think there is anyone in government presently, or certainly on this committee from the government side, who would see this motion as any assessment of them, as a government, personally. I have said consistently at this committee that there needs to be something done when it comes to this issue, and without prejudice. Some of the cases that we've dealt with, some of the cases that have been in the media, some of the cases that have been studied, reported upon, go back to previous governments. So I implore members of this committee to recognize that. This is not about us as personalities. This is not about us as political agents, other than that we have an opportunity, as members of Parliament, to actually do something. The spirit of this motion is to ensure that we actually are able to take out the concerns that people had around perceptions of prejudice and the notion that we can do something.
I think what we heard today gave us some ideas on how we can enhance and support Canadians abroad. This motion's spirit, then—and I implore government members to understand this—is actually about a positive way forward; this is not about gotcha politics.
I hear Mr. Obhrai chuckling. I've talked to him personally about this, about the need to change things so that we can help Canadians abroad so that government is not put in this awkward position. And when you look at the scenarios we've seen, the structural problems that are there, there needs to be something done. That's what this motion is trying to provide in a positive way. It's a proposition motion; it's not an opposition motion, in the sense of, let's corner someone, let's try to make them look bad. There's nothing in this motion other than to propose something positive, to get something done on this issue, so that we don't have more people coming in front of this committee saying, we have problems getting services; we don't see our government supporting us.
That's the spirit of this motion. I look for all of your support, and I think this committee would be well served by having a motion like this supported by all members.
Thank you, Chair.