Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will start off with something that I hope you don't deem to be irrelevant, because I think it's important to mention. This bill was introduced about six months ago. Now, of course, in the summer we couldn't do anything, as we obviously weren't sitting. We've had three meetings on this. We've been going through and hearing from a number of witnesses.
What I find curious and passing strange is that I was sitting in the House yesterday, speaking.... In fact, unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, I know that much to your disappointment, I had to miss part of the meeting yesterday in order to speak on Bill C-43. But the curious fact is that when speaking on Bill C-43...we're getting nowhere on that bill. That's a bill that was introduced maybe eight months ago. It's on unionization of the RCMP, and we can't even beg or plead with the government to move it forward.
Take the lawful access bill. I was just speaking to my assistant about it, thinking that I had spoken on it twice and wondering when it would come back here. But no, I found out it's been introduced yet again. It's been sitting there for five years—five years. The government is bringing out the whip and saying, “Pass this tomorrow, because you, the bad opposition, are holding things up.”
If you want examples of holding things up, how about your representation by population bill? Where the heck is that thing? It was introduced in April and has been sitting around, languishing, collecting dust.
So here we are. In the time we've had this before us, we've had witnesses. We've been diligently trying to work on this bill, and then all of a sudden we get this motion.
What is outrageous is the statements you get in the House by members. I think Mr. Davies spoke very eloquently about how ridiculous it is, but I really think it descends into farce. When I walk into the House and every day there's a question under Standing Order 31 about me or another question about me, it's very nice to see that you care so much, but the reality is, do you think anybody believes this nonsense?
When you stand up and—