Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Without wishing to take shots at my colleagues in other parties, I point out that this is the Bloc Québécois' only amendment. We preferred quality to quantity.
I just want to tell you that Bill C-54, as presently written, says that if a candidate cannot pay back a debt, it is the political party, if there is no registered riding association, that assumes the responsibility for paying the amount owing, just as if it had guaranteed the loan. So the party would lose all control over loans negotiated by candidates.
By way of analogy, imagine that I was allowed by law to borrow as much money as I liked. If the bank manager asked me who was guaranteeing the loan, I could say that it was my cousin across the street. I have not discussed it with him, but he ends up as the guarantor. As it stands, with the present wording, the responsibility lies with the political party. The aim of the amendment is to remove that provision. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favour.