I apologize, Madam Speaker. I was not trying to initiate a conversation between the parliamentary secretary and myself. The point I would like to put across, through the Chair, is that British parliamentary rules are such that the only way members of Parliament can express their views and make themselves heard of the government is through the procedures made available to them in Parliament. From time to time, our friends opposite may find their decisions are not approved as fast as they would like. What can I say? It goes with the territory.
Now, coming back to Group No. 12. As the official opposition critic, the Bloc Quebecois critic on this matter, I would like to discuss the substance of the motions in Group No. 12. The substance is quite simple to understand.
I will not read them in full, but we are talking about five motions tabled by the Bloc. The gist of these motions is that, whenever the minister's power to fix fees is referred to in clauses 47, 48 and 49, the Bloc Quebecois, the official opposition, wants to promote transparency, as it has been its goal since the beginning of the proceedings at report stage of Bill C-26.
Such transparency would be ensured by Motion No. 82, which reflects the other ones, and which provides, as regards the minister's power to fix fees:
That Bill C-26 be amended by adding after line 35, on page 30, the following new Clause:
"49.1 The fixing of fees under sections 47, 48 and 49 is subject to adoption by the House of Commons of a resolution debated for three hours in the ordinary course of the business of the House."
The purpose of this motion is to promote transparency and to provide all elected members of the Canadian Parliament an opportunity to express themselves, regardless of their political affiliation. Such a procedure would only require one afternoon, in fact three hours. It would in no way delay any other decision which the minister may make.
I hope it was not the minister's intention to fix these fees in secret. The minister must give members of this House the opportunity to express their views.
We could discuss the issue for a long time, or we could, as the hon. member for Richelieu did on behalf of the Bloc Quebecois, ask the government to postpone the bill at least until the fall, and to review its form as well as its content.
My goal here is to get the message across. The spirit of the letter must be preserved. If we manage to do that, we will have fewer problems in administering the act afterwards. The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra pointed it out to the Chair. The member for Gaspé is also trying to make the best of the situation by improving the bill, even thogh the Bloc Quebecois is devoted to sovereignty. But as long as we are a part of Canada, I will try to improve this bill, because it will apply to Quebecers too.
Whatever the political suasion of people in my party or of Quebecers in general, I will do whatever I can to make laws of this Parliament easier to implement and to live with. I urge hon. members to read once more motion No. 82, which underlies all of this, and see for themselves that openness is our goal.
I have even been generous enough to suggest a three-hour debate, which is really not long, you have to admit. It would be more of a technicality, but at least, the exercise would take place. Nobody in Canada could suggest that we have not given it a try. But time flies, and since a number of my colleagues would like to speak to Group No. 12, I will yield the floor to the next speaker.