I want to thank my colleague Randall Garrison.
I would also like to use this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Lapensée, and all your colleagues for what you did on October 22. I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude and tell you how professional the service was. Thank you very much for all that. We had an opportunity to say so in person to a number of you, but it's good to be able to reiterate it today.
I also want to say that I share your concerns when it comes to maintaining parliamentary privilege. As a former political science student and graduate, I understand the concept well. I was also a parliamentary guide in 2007, and it's something I had to explain to people.
I think some of my colleagues here could benefit from a little more explanation of what parliamentary privilege really is. It is the ability of the legislative power, Parliament, to pass legislation without interference from the executive power, the government. I think that a member—of the opposition or the government—not being able make it to a vote because they were held up for a few seconds or a few minutes on the Hill is a form of interference with their role as legislators. That is something we have seen—