I am actually going to support the motion. One of the reasons for my decision is that, when theHon. Denis Lebel said this summer that there were reports that he didn't want to release because the public might get worried, it had quite the opposite effect. People were more alarmed by the fact that reports were being kept secret using the excuse that the public might not understand.
As a result, based on the comments I got, people were offended. We have to trust the public. They are the ones who have the last word. So they must receive information, especially when it has to do with a bridge that poses not only an economic issue, but also a real public safety issue. It is therefore important for the reports to be public.
The government is to be thanked for bringing forward the latest Consortium BCDE report on the pre-feasibility study. Unfortunately, the opposition parties had to exert pressure in the media. There is a way for us to work it out now. The motion is really about asking for the reports to be released here, in committee, so that we can examine them together and, at the same time, join our efforts to find a real solution and move forward. I feel that is what the public is asking. That is what the people want: not only to be informed, but also to feel that the government and the opposition parties are working together to protect their interests.
I don't think this motion is asking for too much. All it asks is that the existing reports be made public, without having to go through the media, like we did. Today, we found out that a January report estimated the potential economic loss for Montreal at $741 million if the Champlain Bridge had to close.
So perhaps for the sake of transparency and the willingness to move ahead with things, we ask that all the reports be made public in this committee.
As my colleague mentioned, if matters or issues have to be discussed in camera, perhaps we can talk about that then, but we would have to be able to justify why they are being discussed in camera, not just say that the reports are not being released because the people won't understand.
Thank you.