Yes, euthanasia, assisted dying, the cannabis legalization discussion that's gone on for a number of years.... We should not be killing private members' business dealing with this sort of stuff. We should allow an open debate in the House at which point we all go out and vote according to our consciences. That splits our caucuses. That is a sign that it is an issue that is not easily resolvable, not easily incorporated into a party's platform, and if that's the case, then my goodness, we really should be discussing and debating it as parliamentarians, as decision-makers. That's the principle. Even if I consider the precedent we set, we just get into the habit of killing every uncomfortable piece of legislation. Having been in the position of arguing as someone asking the private members' business committee to make my item votable, and having also sat in the committee when it was trying to deal with these things, I'd just say that is a really bad precedent to set.
The best place to deal with the contentious issues is first by means of private member's legislation so we can work out the bugs, and then when government legislation comes along, we are better equipped to handle those pieces of legislation.
Openness in government, openness to the private member's initiatives is surely the hallmark of an increasingly open society. We've moved really far in this direction over my career, and Mr. Christopherson's career. I would like to not see us starting to backpedal now.
That is my plea to the Liberal members on this committee.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.