Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I really don't want to prolong this too much, but I do want to correct the record on a couple of issues.
First of all, when Mr. Godin says some people here are saying that it's good, I never said that. I think if you check the transcript, I never said that things were good. I said that from time to time we see improvements. I'm not trying to indicate that the whips can take any credit for that. It would be nice if we could think that all our words to our caucus colleagues weren't falling on deaf ears, but I certainly didn't want to leave the impression that I or anyone else around this table would suggest that decorum in the House is good.
I will say—and this came up as well, because we've aired this pretty extensively over the last while—having looked around the world at other parliaments, I would far sooner that MPs vent their frustrations by raising their voices than by using their fists. During the last 13 years in which I have had the privilege of being a member of Parliament, I have seen newscasts from time to time about Korea, Japan, Italy, and, I believe, India, showing full-blown melees in the middle of their parliamentary floor.
Why is that? I mean, are they more hot-blooded than we are? Perhaps, or perhaps it's that they don't feel they have the ability to vent their frustrations. I say that whether you're in opposition or whether you're in government, we all suffer frustrations. We all believe that, from time to time, someone on the other side has said something that is unfair, or unkind, or unjust, and so we react, and normally we react with our voices.
So I'm not suggesting for a moment that it's good. I'm not suggesting for a moment that it can't be improved. As I've said, as long as I continue to be whip of any party, I will continue to do what I can in terms of suggestions.
In fairness, sometimes I'm a culprit on given days--and Mr. Godin, through the chair to you, I suggest that some days you as well get a little hot under the collar.