Mr. Chair, I think I can only refer to what I said before. We cannot alter the legal situation. You're right, it is a bit subjective, but unless there's a national crisis or in the case of a majority government, for some reason--which is rare in our system, or almost impossible--the government loses the confidence of the House, I think we have to maintain the flexibility of the responsible government model.
I think the reality is that a prime minister.... You cite the example of 2000, and I would also cite the same thing that happened in the 1997 election with a federal majority Liberal government; and the same thing happened in 2004. Those were all premature elections, and I would submit to you that in the case of Mr. Chrétien in 1997--I'll try not to be partisan here, Mr. Guimond--and Mr. Chrétien in 2000 and Mr. Martin in 2004, those elections were all premature. They were all called clearly, I think--and there are books written on this--to catch the new opposition leading party with a new leader, flat-footed.
I would suggest to you that once this becomes law, a prime minister at his peril will attempt to do what Mr. Chrétien and Mr. Martin did in 1997, 2000, and 2004.