Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that this first bill we have supported in principle. That is number one. Number two, this is precedent-setting legislation. Maybe the government doesn't realize the importance of the legislation they are themselves proposing. I find it actually strange that they would object to the kind of consideration we're giving to precedent-setting legislation, which purports, for the first time in Canadian legal history, to amend the State Immunity Act to give a civil remedy to victims of terror. That deserves, and the Canadian public I think would wish, that this committee would give it the informed consideration it warrants.
I might add, Mr. Chairman, that it has not been considered by this House before. It has been considered in the Senate. It has not been considered by this House before. And the amendments so proposed for the first time in this chamber, the amendments I've been proposing here today, are designed to improve the legislation for the purposes for which they seek to have it enacted.