Mr. Speaker, I am also rising to speak in light of the comments attributed to me in this weekend's Toronto Sun as well as the Ottawa Sun .
Those comments do not refer to the Chair or to yourself, but obviously to a larger question: the privilege of all the members in this House.
The thousands of men and women who laid down their lives for this country, in defence of the unity of this country, are being insulted each and every day with the continuation of this debate. They fought for a united country and a united flag.
It is for those reasons that I have absolutely no desire at this point to suspend free speech, to allow members of Parliament not to be able defend themselves when veterans are talking to them about what is going on in this great House.
There are grave consequences to whatever decision should be made, Mr. Speaker. That is not a reflection on you. However, this Parliament should not dismiss it, in a rather dilatory fashion, by trying to throw out a couple of interesting rules which are suddenly conjured up, especially when the country is concerned about national unity.
I may have an opportunity to be quoted by a person of the press as to my position with respect to the flag. If that causes any difficulty to the Chair then I sincerely apologize for it, but I do not apologize for the unity of my country, nor do I apologize for the Canadian flag, especially with the separatists.