Mr. Speaker, the Reform leader's grand dream of a united alternative continues to implode as more and more Reformers see it for what it is; an attempt to gain power without regard for principle.
As the Reform member for Yorkton—Melville said in today's paper, “the byelection results should be a serious wake-up call for us. We've got some serious problems”. He was referring to Reform's last place finish in the Windsor—St. Clair byelection.
Reform has spent two years and all its resources trying to create a united alternative that will win seats in Ontario. What did it get for its efforts? It got a drop in the party's popular vote from 14% in 1997 to an embarrassing 6% this week.
There is a lesson in this for the Reform Party: you do not gain support by playing divisive regional politics; you do not gain support by undermining public institutions, and you certainly do not gain support by merely changing the name of your party.
You gain support by working hard, listening to Canadians and above all, showing respect for every citizen in this country.