Colleagues, the last thing I ever wanted to be was the focal point of any kind of anger or any kind of criticism in this House. My only reason for being the Speaker of this House is to see to it that all of you, my colleagues and myself as a member of Parliament, are treated fairly.
From the outset I have tried to see to it that all of you Canadian parliamentarians had the chance to express yourselves and be heard within the rules of the House of Commons. You have entrusted me to look at the rules and to make decisions on behalf of the House.
There can be no doubt that there was criticism of me in the House this afternoon. Of course there was. Perhaps the hon. whip of the opposition party has every right to criticize what I do. Perhaps the Speaker should be criticized when he brings—I do not want to use the word dishonour, but I will use the member's word if indeed it was that—shame—