Mr. Chair, as you'll know, the motion just put forward by Mrs. Zahid is intended to deprive members of Parliament in smaller parties and any independent members—we don't have any at the moment, but it would apply to any future independent members—from the right that now exists within O'Brien and Bosc in House of Commons Procedure and Practice to put forward amendments at report stage that are substantive in nature.
By creating I would say a false opportunity, a coercive measure, to present amendments at committee, it does the opposite. Although on the face of it, it might appear to new members to be a friendly measure toward members of Parliament in smaller parties, it's actually an oppressive measure to deprive members of Parliament in smaller parties of the right to present amendments at report stage.
In other words, if you don't pass the motion in front of you now, members of smaller parties will have the ability to bring forward amendments at report stage and will not have to show up at your committee protesting at every stage, as I assure you I will be, at being brought here for amendments that I cannot adequately present or defend.
I also find it very confusing that in this instance I received a message from the procedural clerk on Friday afternoon that should I wish to submit amendments, I would be welcome to send them, and then the committee would decide how it would like to proceed.
The motion that you have before you has time limits involved that are not met by the current circumstances.
I'm in your hands, Mr. Chair, but I want to make every member of this committee fully aware that I know that the Liberal members have been instructed to pass this motion. I find it offensive. I wish you'd reconsider. I wish the government House leader would reconsider.
I'm perfectly content with the rights I have as a member of Parliament, but this motion, which was developed under the last Parliament by the majority Conservatives, is one that oppresses smaller party members. It isn't an assistance of any kind.