Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll try to be brief. I want to avoid playing into the Liberals' hands and obviously helping them ensure that the committee meeting ends without us finally passing or voting down the motion.
I'm speaking to the Liberals.
I'm really very empathetic to your situation. You're working quite hard to filibuster. It can't be easy. I say this because I know some of you. I know that this approach doesn't reflect your values. I'm sure that you aren't really like that. You held a wonderful caucus where you were briefed on the monument situation. In addition, many Liberal members didn't support the government's position. They were uncomfortable with the government's choice.
You spoke about veterans. Some of them are here. Take the time to ask them after the meeting if they agree with how the government chose who should build this monument. You're pinning everything on them. However, take the time to go and see them later.
Mr. Casey, I said that the issue wasn't about veterans. I told you three, four or five times. Thank you for repeating my comments. The only problem is that you failed to put them in context.
You're using the veterans again. In a way, this isn't any of the veterans' business. If you really wanted to make it their business, my goodness, you would have actually put it in your selection criteria. That wasn't done. The government did nothing but conduct a survey. It was a bogus survey, Mr. Sarai, and you know it. The largest survey company in Canada criticized it from top to bottom.
Please, stop using the veterans.
Look around at your colleagues. You'll see how little pride some of them take in the fact that this government makes decisions in this manner. It's absurd.
You spoke about political smear campaigns. All that we and the Conservatives—even though I rarely agree with them—want is transparency on this issue.
Once again, you have taken two hours to avoid letting us address the real issues. All that we need to do, if you have nothing to hide, is simply pass this motion. Let's pass this motion. It's quite simple.
Mr. Casey, I agree that the jury's decision wasn't unanimous. As you know, I have gone back on this position. You can use it as often as you like. The jury had to reach a decision by a majority vote. The jury chose the Daoust team by a majority vote. That's all.
Thank you.