Thank you. I'll try to be quick.
I will direct this to you, Mark. I have to tell you that I come from a municipality very similar to yours. In fact, a couple of the latest cases certainly have come from my municipality. So there is nobody who wants to see tougher legislation more than I do. I certainly don't always agree with your tactics and how you approach politics. We both have been at this for a long time, coming from city council backgrounds. But the guts of the bill and the essence of what you're trying to accomplish I don't disagree with.
I do have to say that I have amendments to this bill I would love to move forward. I don't think it's a bill that, with all due respect to the senator who is sitting here now, does what we need in this country in terms of taking it to the next level, but at the very least, it's a step in the right direction. If we move amendments here today and defeat the bill, it means we have an archaic piece of legislation from the 1800s with a few minor amendments that were made in the 1950s.
I would submit to you that, as you stated, whether or not you're here after the next election--and I'll say the same thing--I certainly don't think you intend to let this die, if this bill passes today, and I can assure you that I don't intend to let this die. So is it the end? No, it's not the end, because as long as people like you and me are in the House of Commons fighting on behalf of the people who own animals and on behalf of animals in this country, then there is no reason for anyone in this room to believe that we are not going to take this any further.
Some of your own colleagues—and I'm not trying to be partisan here—want to see this pass because at least it gets us one step closer to where we need to be.
Perhaps I would end by allowing you to comment, or getting you to comment on that specific piece.