First of all, Ms. Gaudreau, thank you for your candour and for sharing your experience of the House of Commons with groups of school children who come to watch meetings.
Your question is of great concern to me, especially as Speaker of the House of Commons. You are not the only person who is asking yourself these kinds of questions; in my discussions with members from each of the political parties, everyone raises this issue.
It is up to us, as members of Parliament, to make choices, to have passionate and profound discussions, to demand accountability, especially from a government, to receive clear answers and to create an environment where it is really the ideas that are being attacked, not the individual. As a member of the Bloc Québécois, you know perfectly well that, here in Ottawa, ideas are what matters. It's up to all of us to elevate the debate.
There are some ways to do that. I think it helps when there is more interaction between members so that they are not formally locked into their role with each other. They could have meals together, travel together on a committee or a parliamentary association, and get to know each other better. It's not something specific that can be regulated, but it's so very important. It's the glue that holds the political system together.