I hate to say that I've been here a long time, but I've been here a long time, and I've gone from that position, to that position, to that position, to the position I find myself in right now. I've completed an entire circuit of the House of Commons.
When we were in that position, the equality of parties was the principle on which this committee operated. Each party was treated with equality, and that equality in and of itself created an independence.
When the current coalition was fractured between Reform and Alliance and Progressive Conservatives, etc., each of their incarnations was treated with equality. Now we find the situation reversed. I would think it's only reasonable to expect equality before this committee.
It is not simply a rubber stamp of government, regardless of the fact that you have the majority. All things in politics are temporary, both victory and defeat. That's why this institution exists, because it is the talking shop for the people. And the talking shop for the people expects some respect for minority parties. The last time we had a majority government, the last time this committee met when there was a majority government, the parties were treated with equality, and everyone got an equal amount of speaking time, regardless of the percentage.
Round one, with respect to the subcommittee.... When the Liberals were the majority, they treated all parties with equality, including the previous reincarnation of this particular party. Now the situation is reversed, interestingly, with not such great enthusiasm for treating parties with equality.