Thank you very much for that.
There's clearly a lot of work to be done. When I look at the calendar, it's May 30. There are only a few more weeks left before the House rises for the summer. Looking at the next election, we see that it's in October of 2025. That's about a year away right now, having regard for the fact we only have a few sitting weeks left. This underscores a real concern I have that this will not be in place in time for the next election.
It's as a result of a government that has dragged its feet and was dragged kicking and screaming to finally introduce a foreign influence registry, despite calls for years by security experts, by diaspora communities and by Conservatives. Indeed it is, I would submit, not a coincidence that this legislation was introduced the first sitting day after the damning report of Madam Justice Hogue, a damning report, an indictment of the government and an indictment of the Prime Minister. This is nothing more than an attempt by this government to use this bill for political cover in the face of conclusions that demonstrate that we have a Prime Minister who turned a blind eye to foreign interference.
I have to say that the delay is unacceptable, because consultations for a foreign influence registry ended one year ago, and therefore, had the government introduced legislation a year ago, we would have a foreign influence registry in place well ahead of the next election, but because these Liberals have delayed and failed to act, here we are with the very real possibility we won't have a foreign influence registry in place. If there is one in place, it will be right at the time the election is called, which raises questions about its effectiveness during the campaign period.
Given the timeline we have, Conservatives believe it is absolutely imperative that we move this legislation forward quickly. It's why my colleague Mr. Chong, the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, introduced a motion yesterday in the House of Commons to see that this bill would pass through all legislative stages in the House by June 12, but incredibly, yesterday in the House, the government's coalition partner, the NDP, blocked Mr. Chong's motion.
Here we have the coalition partner of the Liberals, who have dragged their feet for years, now obstructing moving this bill through Parliament. I can't help but wonder why that is.
It certainly demonstrates that Jagmeet Singh, once again, is an unserious leader, having regard for the fact that he—