It's true: you cannot deny the fact that they will be receiving something they didn't have before, and that is the ability to go to committee to make amendments. I'll leave it at that.
With respect to a couple of other points made, specifically David's, who said he was glad to hear that I had agreed to the two-track process, I hadn't. I will still be arguing the sub judice convention, certainly. I take full well the fact that the Speaker has found a prima facie case. I respect that, but I also realize that committees are the masters of their own agenda, their own fate, and their own schedule, and we can determine exactly when we begin that. I just firmly believe that anything....
That's why the sub judice convention has been recognized. That's why it has been diligently observed every time there is an occasion when comments made, whether in the House or in committee, could be prejudicial to an ongoing court case. We have respected that as parliamentarians. We have respected not going down that road. I think we have to continue to do that.
We can still get to it, but there is an ongoing court case right now, and we have a conflict with things that may be said in this committee that could ultimately be proven prejudicial to the court proceedings. Whether they be prejudicial to Mr. Bezan or to Elections Canada, it matters not. The fact is that quite clearly the convention is put there to prevent this type of prejudicial comment from being made by parliamentarians under our privilege and under the immunity provided to us, both in committee and in the House. I don't think we can go down that road in a track parallel to the study on MP transparency. I will argue that in far more detail if need be.
With respect to going back to the study on MP transparency, listen, I share the views of everyone here that we need to get some resolution of that. However, I do take some offence, frankly, to the characterization by the NDP that it seems they are the only ones—or they're at least trying to imply that they are the only ones—really wanting to get this done because they're truly the ones wanting to make sure that we shine the light on MP expenses. I would point out, as I've done before, as has Kevin, that if they were truly, truly wanting to shed light on MP transparency, they would follow the lead that both the Liberals and our party have done—