Mr. Speaker, I have trouble understanding the comments made by the hon. member for Thunder Bay-Nipigon. He seems in complete agreement with what has been said on this side of the House since this morning. The Canadian people, and the Quebec people among others, can testify to the barely concealed and unconcealable embarrassment of the speakers from the party in office with regard to Bill C-22.
We are told: "There has been scheming; acts that would otherwise be unquestionably criminal have been committed by politicians and business people. But let us forget about that, so that Toronto airport can be developed. Let us forget about all that and stop talking about it, as it does not make things move forward". Is this case as urgent today as it was on October 7? What is preventing us from getting to the bottom of this and looking at the facts? Is it the urgency of it, as the hon. member for Thunder Bay-Nipigon is telling me?
I understand the urgent need, at some point, to resolve this issue, but the members opposite seem to be trying to hide behind convoluted language and they almost get away with it. Some things need to be clarified. We must clear things up.
Why do they not want to clear things up? If no serious impropriety has been committed in this case, unlike what Mr. Nixon says in his report, the Canadian people will at least feel that the government then in office and the current government acted in their interest. Why refuse at all costs to get to the bottom of this?
I ask the hon. member for Thunder Bay-Nipigon to try to justify this behaviour, if he thinks he is still strong enough to do it.