Thank you very much, Chair. As always, it's good to be at PROC.
It's interesting, as I reflect. I will be supporting the subamendment Mr. Cooper brought forward. As those who are watching might not know, when a bill is tabled in the House of Commons, paper copies are brought to MPs. There have been many discussions and suggestions that there were negotiations behind closed doors between the governing Liberals and their coalition partners in the NDP.
I started flipping through this bill, and I saw the changes to the election day. At first, I thought it was a joke. How in the world would someone suggest so overtly, in their own self-interest, pushing the election date back one week? I tweeted a picture of it with no specific allegation. It was simply a picture of that paragraph of the bill. Over the course of the next number of hours, hundreds of thousands of Canadians saw it. While I didn't ascribe any motive, I would certainly suggest today that there seems to be a clear motive. Certainly, Canadians saw through the facade of what that amendment meant.
Here is the reality: Conservatives vote no confidence in the government all the time. It seems as if my friends in other political parties should familiarize themselves with this Westminster parliamentary system we have. The fact is that it is self-serving political manoeuvring the government is undertaking in secret negotiations with the NDP. That is why Canadians, and people more generally, do not trust politicians.
This is an opportunity for members of this committee to make a statement saying that it's not about pensions. Rather, it's about accountability. Let's move the fixed election day. As we heard very clearly today, it can be adjusted. That's why we have an independent elections regulator and authority in this country. That's a proud part of our democratic tradition. Let's move it to the day before Mr. Singh qualifies for his pension and see where his loyalties are—whether he's in it for his pension or for Canadians.
Mr. Chair, I cede the floor with this final word: Let's get to a vote. Let's see where MPs are at.