Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to use this opportunity to respond to my hon. colleague. He asked what people in other democracies would think. In the United Kingdom, the mother of the parliamentary system, there were no debates or votes; in Belgium, no debates and no votes; in France, no debates and no votes; in the Netherlands, two debates and no vote; and in the United States of America it is a decision made by the president.
Under the circumstances there is the Canadian record of coming to the House for debate which authorized the mandate to participate in the Kosovo mission; a debate which authorized, through the expression of views of members of the House, a peacekeeping implementation; and a debate last Monday night that went into all hours of the morning. We had these briefings. I think Canadians can stand proud.