Mr. Chairman, I'm wondering whether other members would agree to what I've suggested on two other occasions so far, which is that some of these be grouped as being similar. The only way we can do that is if we can have somebody with some expertise address these from a procedural point of view. From the point of view of intention, which is what I thought I heard you say, I don't think you're ever going to get any consensus. I don't know what everybody else's intention might be on a clause-by-clause basis. I'm not sure that they would reflect my own.
I'm for making a decision that says let's come to a point where we can agree on what it is that we're voting on. I've read all of the amendments. In my own mind, I've already made a decision on which ones could be grouped, and in fact, that's how I've dealt with them for myself. Everyone has his or her own approach, but we are constantly referring back to either the department or to the chair to help us through a particular amendment.
While that's helpful from a legislator's perspective, what is much more efficient from the perspective of the responsibility of a legislator is that we reach a decision that will be useful and productive as quickly as possible. I say this not out of naïveté or out of feigned concern, but out of genuine interest that if Bill C-6 is a piece of legislation that is intended for the public good and safety, then all of its articles and amendments be considered in that light. I can't think of a more counterproductive use of a legislator's time than to constantly waiver on whether these amendments or these clauses fit the general definition of the responsibility of a legislator on this item.
If it is not the wish of the committee to deal with Bill C-6, fine. But then it will be dealt with on an item-by-item basis. So would you please--and maybe other members will disagree--over the course of the next 24 hours have your legislative clerk and your clerk group these for us? All members around the table have the same information as I have. I'm not sure we need you to hold our hands, but at least if you group them, we'll be able to deal with these as a large item. We all know what we want out of these amendments.
Without sounding like I'm really upset, we can have a more productive use of another hour and a half of time than we did in the last one. And everybody has a right. I think Mr. Laframboise said it properly: we all have our democratic rights that need to be respected. But along with democratic rights, this is a responsibility for all of us to be germane in our discussions on the clause-by-clause.