Mr. Speaker, the Reform House leader has cut right to the nub of the question, which is: What is the big issue about committees? Is it just that we need more television cameras? Is it an ego thing for parliamentarians? What is the issue?
It is not about televising committees, although that is critically important. It is very important that we at least keep up with the Senate in our ability to communicate with Canadians about the work of this place. That is important, but it is not just about televising committees, it is about the work of all committees.
Perhaps 10% of members of parliament are present now in the House. Why is that? Are they off having tea and crumpets at the Empress Hotel? No, they are off at committee, doing important work. They are having clause by clause discussions on bills. They are proposing amendments to legislation. Members are bringing forward proposals on policy initiatives. They are investigating the role of Canada in Kosovo. They are asking the defence minister to explain where the money is being spent and how we are protecting our soldiers. Members are doing all of this important work.
We will not know about most of it. Even if we had a television camera in front of us we could not watch the hearings. We cannot see the work, the hours, the money, the expertise and the witnesses that we fly here at great public expense, and the devotion to the subject matter which is shown by members from all parties in the House. Members bring different perspectives and often come to a unanimous conclusion after hearing witnesses and having a clause by clause debate. A lot of work is involved in coming to a unanimous conclusion.
Then what happens? The report is tabled in the House with much fanfare. Maybe there is a press conference downstairs. We all say that it was a satisfying bit of work. We came to parliament to help change the system and propose things to make Canada better. What happens? Nothing. The fact that nothing happens is the big issue.
Reports are prepared, work is done, effort is expended, dollars are expended and hours are wasted because the reports gather dust. That is a shame. What we should have is a vibrant discussion, under the full light of television cameras, so that members of parliament can be seen by their constituents back home.
Our constituents could see us deliberating, for example, an important agricultural issue. The member for Portage—Lisgar might be debating the future of the wheat board, the future of a farm subsidy program, the railway and so on. The member could say to his constituents “Watch tomorrow morning at noon because I will be going to work for you. You will be seeing me in action. Tomorrow I will represent our constituency on that important issue”.
The big issue is that no one knows about it. No one can see it. When a report is finally drafted, nothing happens. That is the big issue. That is why reports should be dealt with. They should at least merit a response from the government in a timely fashion.
There is a list, which is too long to go into, of dozens of reports that have been tabled in this place. The response from the government, at best, was: “We had a look at it and we are not going to do it”. That brings the work of parliamentarians into question. That is unfortunate. As I mentioned earlier, democracy does not die usually a violent death; it dies by apathy, neglect and undernourishment.
I say that the light of television cameras would do something to reverse that. It would nourish democracy. It would give strength and importance to the work of all members of parliament, so that it would not appear that we simply gather here for question period. The work we do would be noticed and would make a difference in the Government of Canada.