Madam Speaker, I have some questions for the Reform Party.
I have listened to the debate throughout today and yesterday and I have heard some very disturbing comments. The member for St. Albert said yesterday: "Surely they could have found someone else. Surely there is somebody else who could do this important job. Surely there is somebody else who is equally qualified".
I do not know why Reform members have such problems being proud that a Canadian was chosen by the United Nations as the best person to do this job and why they have such a problem facilitating
a competent Canadian who has been internationally recognized as being capable of doing this job.
Perhaps Reformers are suggesting that Madam Justice Louise Arbour should do this job and not receive any salary while she is doing it. I am totally confused about what their purpose is. I do know they have chosen to waste a full day to debate a bill and to complain at the same time about wasting the time of the House of Commons in dealing with this.
They have complained that we are not obeying the law. We recognize there is a section of law that has to be changed to accommodate this very unusual situation. Canada and Madam Justice Arbour have been honoured by this appointment.
Why, if they are so concerned about this, have they spent the entire day debating everything except the subject matter of the bill before us at a cost to the Canadian taxpayers of $80,000 an hour for every hour the House of Commons sits? Why do they have so much trouble accepting that the international community wants to honour one of our own? Why have they chosen to spend more than a full day debating issues unrelated to this bill, issues that they can choose to debate on any opposition day? I wish they could answer those questions.