—other than a reflection.
First of all, thanks to Mr. Godin for bringing this up again, because I think we need it to be given constant attention.
I've probably been in the House less time than anybody here, but it is so curious to me, given the degree of antipathy towards politicians in this country from the general public, that during question period, when most of this misbehaviour occurs, the one time that the public actually has a view of our behaviour is the one time that we behave in the way that the public least respects. It's doubly curious because not only does it give a very bad impression, but it's generally a false impression, because it's acting, a lot of the time. So it's self-inflicted disrespect from the public that we're inviting.
I think Mr. Godin's recommendation—and I don't know that this takes a formal motion—that the whips meet with the Speaker on a weekly basis, or on a regular basis at least, is a very good idea. I've only had exposure to one Speaker and I can't compare him to others, but I certainly have the impression, with the greatest respect to someone who's doing a very difficult job, that there is very little control exercised by the Speaker. I haven't witnessed one person sanctioned in the six years that I've been here. So I think those meetings are important.
Without, as well, as Mr. Hill...exposing caucus confidences any further than Jane Taber seems to report on weekly anyway, it is curious that just after we have our national caucus meetings, when our whips...and certainly Ms. Redman has very sternly warned us to improve our behaviour, Wednesday afternoon should be the worst. So I don't know, there seems to be a perverse relationship here.
I think it is a problem that we should take very seriously, and I'm grateful that Mr. Godin brings it to our attention again, because it does affect our legitimacy as political leaders in this country.