Madam Speaker, this is an issue that will continue to be of concern to Canadians.
Democracy really means rule by the people. In a democracy, since we cannot all be in Athens and put our black bean or our white bean into the circle, we elect people to represent us in that capacity. We rule through the agent of our elected representatives.
We have another house of government in the country which is not elected and does not have a mandate from the people who are supposed to be the rulers of the country. That being the case, unelected people in a democracy should not be bringing forth measures on behalf of the people. That totally flies in the face of the whole principle of democracy.
When bills are introduced in that way, my position and I believe the position of most Canadians is that is terribly undemocratic. It contravenes some of the most cherished traditions and values of our country.
It must be fought vigorously, not because the people in the Senate are competent as many of them are and not because the people in the Senate do not have levels of expertise sometimes greater than that of many members of the House but simply and solely because senators are not the democratically chosen representatives of the people whose job it is to order their own lives, spend their own money and shape their own future.
We will oppose the introduction of bills at every turn of the wheel.