Mr. Speaker, I feel like I have been put on the spot. Our party believes we should be representing our constituencies and by so doing, because we come from so many varied ridings, both urban and rural, both sides of the mountains, both ends of the country, Ontario to B.C., we will have differing opinions. We will have different views on the same issue.
In trying to determine how to vote on a bill, on an issue, I think it is important first of all to bounce ideas, the thrust of the bill, against your party's principles and platform. The Liberals do it with their red book. We had a blue book which we call now the blue sheet. If it is consistent with that then there are no doubts on which way to go.
Then other issues become involved and problems start to surface, it becomes bigger, it becomes a multibillion dollar problem if you include alcohol, hand guns and everything else that gets smuggled into the country. Smuggling is a major problem. I do not believe it is in any red book or blue book.
I believe it is the responsibility of MPs to look at the issue from a Canadian perspective and make a decision in the best interests of the country. Bounce the ideas off constituents so they can have input. There are a lot of mechanisms and ways
and means by which they can communicate with their MP. We then have a balanced approach.
I am not so sure my colleague intended we should debate an issue first and then draft the legislation or that legislation should be drafted first and then we react to it. I prefer the latter. However if there are amendments such as those we have tried to make to this bill, they should be listened to instead of throwing them out as this current government likes to do.