Mr. Speaker, the hon. member across the way has urged me to make an intervention.
I am probably as old fashioned as they get around this place and I will gladly admit that. As old fashioned as I am, today we are discussing, to use words from the preamble of the bill, the dignity and worth of all individuals. On a day when we are discussing that, a member of this House made a statement which affects the dignity of all individuals, of all Canadians and even of this House. At the same time we as legislators are raking over the coals another member of the House before a parliamentary committee for inappropriate behaviour.
Why is it that the hon. member opposite failed to mention what his position was on the comments which were made by another member on this very day? Those remarks were attributed to him by the press. He never once raised the issue in terms of the dignity of the individual.
It is fine for the member opposite to pontificate and ask if the chief government whip will allow his colleagues a free vote. That is fair game. However, there are things in the House which are not fair game. Yes, we do have freedom of speech. However, we have responsibility for our words.
And that responsibility means that we must stand up and say what we have to say. Earlier today, a member made comments that do not befit this place and he has not been seen since. Why did we
not hear anything? Not even one member of his party dissociated himself or herself from these unacceptable comments.
I ask the hon. member if, after making his comments and admonishing the other parliamentarians in this House, he will have the courage to rise and to dissociate himself from the comments attributed to his colleague?