—in Calgary because it will be a gong show.... Really?
I wonder if they make that kind of statement at Calgary City Hall, that they can't trust their citizens to come out and behave in a civilized fashion, and that they would just participate in what the government wants to call a gong show. I don't know who the genius was that came up with that as the response, but boy, that was not the one to give.
But what it did do was give us an insight into the way the government views the very citizens who they govern, and that is, with contempt, with a measure of fear.
All we've done with our motion is to point out the importance of the process to this bill. We believe the process in its own way is as important as the bill. Because if there is an unfair process, how can you come up with a fair bill and a fair election, with a fair elections act?
The government's arguments don't hold. But I have maintained, and it's my position, that the government doesn't care about how much negativity there is because it's more than worth it. Whatever negative press, whatever negative hits they take now, it's worth it because they're banking on Canadians forgetting and not thinking about this again until the election is in the bag. Then they'll worry about dealing with everything afterwards.
That's why they have no problem being so disrespectful, and that's why they sit there the way they do looking everywhere except at themselves as to why we're here tonight. It's certainly not because I enjoy talking—I do—but even I don't like talking this long.
It's funny to see the people who speak for me laugh.
It's got us in a place now where you have a bit of a standoff. I'll continue to go as long as I can.