I am teasing the bears and they are apparently getting a little agitated. Since they stopped listening to Newt Gingrich they have had to go farther afield to get their marching orders. Where the policies come from is really quite telling.
I will be splitting my time with Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs.
Reformers talk about the fact that there has been no consultation. The tactics that are used are interesting. My colleague from Mississauga South pointed out that a former speaker of the Reform Party said that only 270 people were consulted. The fact of the matter is the committee travelled across the country and received 270 deputations or presentations literally representing millions of Canadians.
They know that, but it is convenient to describe the Canadian Labour Congress as a person rather than to say that it is a group representing millions of people who have a lot at stake. It is a neat little way to twist the facts around to get out a message that is very misleading.
We did consult. As for ramming Bill C-2 through this place, as members opposite know we have consulted across the country. It has been debated in committee. Members opposite have spoken about it. It has been debated at second reading. It has been debated in committee of the whole and at third reading. I suppose the Chilean experience would simply see polarization of parliamentary democracy. We do not operate that way and members opposite know that we have to deal with reform to the CPP.