Thank you for that. I just needed to get the wording so I could try to figure out a way that I might be able to suggest something as a way out of this.
I've made my concerns quite clear. I don't believe that a majority vote of Parliament should be enough to create these kinds of emergency provisions. I know there were some other concerns that I hadn't considered myself, but I think they are valid concerns. They're about the possibility that, once these are in place, a governing party, or anyone else who felt they had enough ability to utilize these for their own benefit, could choose to keep them in place by not giving their agreement.
That is the weird situation we're in. I think there may be a way out of it. I'm trying to figure out how to word it, but first I'll explain what I'm trying to do so that I can get a sense if there's agreement. If there is, maybe we can come up with some wording.
Essentially, what I would be looking to do is to make a suggestion that we return to the initial suggestion that the modified standing orders could only come into force at the agreement of all recognized parties. I think what we would then be looking to do is to try to make it so that if one of those parties were to withdraw their consent at any point, or their agreement, then they would be rescinded through that.
Therefore, when all parties are in agreement, the measures could be put in place, and they would stay in place only as long as all parties agree. That would remove the ability for a majority in the House of Commons, or one party in the House of Commons that happened to have a majority, to either put these in place or refuse to remove them.
First, I hope that's clear. If it's clear, can I get some sense from people? I don't know if we can do a straw poll or something to get a sense of whether there is some agreement on the principle. I think I could probably come up with some wording if there is. The idea would be simply that only through all parties agreeing could these be put in place, and they would remain in place until one or more of the parties removes its agreement.