Mr. Speaker, I welcome the question. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a dark moment in Canada's history. If the only problem resulting from the APEC fiasco and the government's disastrous handling of the APEC fiasco was an erosion of confidence in the Liberal government, in the federal government, then we would be hypocrites to be rubbing our hands with concern and saying “Is that not a terrible thing?” But let us be clear that what is so deadly serious about the government's mishandling of this matter is that it shakes the confidence of Canadians in our justice system. That is what is so very very serious.
In addition to that, I can speak for my own constituents and I can speak for people from all across the country with whom I have been talking and from whom I have been hearing. I know my colleagues in my caucus are finding the same thing, that overwhelmingly Canadians understand that the justice system depends upon two very important things. One is the impeccable impartiality of the solicitor general. It has been demonstrated that that impartiality does not exist with the current solicitor general as evidenced by his mishandling of this matter. The other is that the justice system depends upon there being legal representation available to parties who are appearing before such an inquiry. That goes to the very heart of our justice system.
The fact that the government feels completely warranted to overrule, to reject the pleadings of the public complaints commission in itself is astounding. The commission is saying that this process cannot work and justice cannot be done unless the Government of Canada responds to the representations for legal council. Yet the Prime Minister and the solicitor general have completely refused to acknowledge the conflict of interest which they are in by overruling the recommendations of the commission.
I have already referred in my comments to the long list of legal experts and judicial figures who have expressed their support on the side of the argument for legal representation. That is the motion which is before the House. I think it is going to be a test of whether there is any sense of justice and decency left, at least on the backbenches of the Liberal government.