I want to thank the honourable member so much.
It has been 13 years since the bizarre motion was created by Mr. Harper's PMO that members of parties that are smaller than 12 would be allowed amendments to be deemed moved, but they could only speak when the amendment came up. Had I not been allowed to say a word, this would have been the first time that I've done the work, come to a committee and not been able to say a word, so I'm grateful for that.
I was just reflecting on the fact that today is June 17. I remember what I was doing last year on June 18 in the dying hours of the evening, because during the morning of June 18, I had attended the funeral for the late honourable Marc Garneau in Montreal, then spent until midnight when the bâillon came down trying to present amendments to the committee on Bill C-5 before there was no longer any time to debate them.
I will say that I didn't put in nearly as many amendments as Jenny Kwan and the NDP did and certainly not as many as my colleague from the Bloc Québécois did, but all of our amendments were intended to reflect concerns we heard from experts and from our constituents. My amendments—if there's any chance without debate as you look through them tonight, as you come up to them one after another—some of them have conflicts or are very similar to efforts put forward by other members of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP.
One of our amendments is PV‑2.
In fact, there is a reason why we use the letters “PV” to refer to the Green Party.
If we put it down in English, it would look like a government amendment, G-something.
I'm going to jump right in to talk about PV‑2.
It is directly supported by the intelligence commissioner. Oversight cannot be meaningful if the reviewer does not have access to the full evidentiary record.
As for my first amendment, I ask you to please consider it, although it is somewhat similar to some of the other amendments, but it's really important that orders made under this act be time limited and subject to meaningful, ongoing review. We can't have extraordinary powers that continue by default.
I won't have time. I know you gave me a few moments, and we're going to have the end of debate in I don't know how many minutes, but I'm grateful for this chance to say a few words.
This process of programming motions is offensive at any time. I've always objected to them, but I hope this committee—and maybe the chair will help me—will take it back to the powers that be. It really isn't right to say that our rights, which I would have but for the motion that was passed by this committee and every other committee without thinking about it after every election.... I would otherwise have the right under our rules to bring forward substantive amendments at report stage, so I would beg of members here who have seen what it's like to be a member of Parliament sitting at the table hoping for a chance to say a word.... I appreciate the Conservative member's thoughtfulness in asking if I'd like to say something before saying I will vote against this bill. I'm terribly, terribly sad that the concerns of so many people were dismissed so casually.
Thank you.