I hear somebody saying I am always here. No, I am not always here. For heaven's sake can the member not listen to these comments as being directed at all of us, no matter what party we come from, as parliamentarians who have a responsibility to this institution? Or, does everything have to be cheapened by the kind of remark I just heard from the hon. member?
I will finish with a word of constructive criticism. I hope it will be taken in the spirit in which it is offered. What we also see in declining relevance of parliament is the culmination or the fruit of a decade of dumping on politicians. We see it not only here, but we see it in legislatures across the country. For a decade people have been told that politicians are bad, they are the worst thing that could ever happen to a society, that the real good things that happen in the country happen elsewhere and that somehow we are all sort of parasites.
Some of my colleagues in the House have arrived in parliament and want to make a go of it. I admire them for that. However, it is an irony that they are trying to make a go of it at a time when the consequences of some of the things they have been a part of are kicking in. I would ask them to think of that as well.
From here on I ask the government to let us see some members over there. Let us have some respect for parliament. That is a responsibility the government has and it has not been executing it. Anything that comes out today from what the Reform Party did last night that helps the government see more clearly and to get its act together will be of benefit to all of us.