Mr. Speaker, I would like to lead into my question with a quote, which states:
I...support Senate reform. If it is done properly, a restructured and revitalised Upper Chamber can give Albertans a voice in the governance of Canada. If elected Liberal leader, I pledge to work for a Senate that is elected, that has legislative powers of its own, and contains strong representation from all regions of Canada.
That was said on June 23, 1990 at the Liberal leadership convention. It gets better.
The same individual said on September 24, 1991, as reported in Hansard : “A reformed Senate is essential. It must be a Senate that is elected, effective and equitable”.
The same individual, speaking to 400 delegates at the annual general meeting of the Alberta branch of the federal Liberal Party in 1990, said: “The Liberal Government in two years will make it (the Senate) elected. As Prime Minister I can take steps to make it happen”.
The same individual went on to say to the Toronto Star on February 2, 1990: “You want the triple E Senate and I want one too”.
The same individual, who I will reveal to the House, went on to say once again, as reported in Hansard on May 14, 1991: “As I said before, and repeat, reform of the Senate is extremely important. I believe in it”.
The same individual said on February 1, 1997 to the Calgary Herald : “If he names him”, referring to Senator Stan Waters, “that's the end of appointed senators who are not elected”.
The same individual, speaking to Prime Time News on the CBC on December 29, 1992, said: “I know that in western Canada they were disappointed that there was not, there's the Senate, because they wanted to have an equal Senate and an elected Senate and I thought it was a good thing to do”.
Only one man could make that type of speech. Only man could make that quote. It is the same individual who also said “I'm not interested in patronage because I'm a Liberal” to 600 people in Edmonton, which was reported in the Windsor Star on February 2, 1990.
I leave members with one last quote: “I didn't want to be trapped into making decisions on patronage, local contracts, and appointments that cause so much friction and bad blood”. That is found at page 196 of a book which he wrote in 1985 called Straight from the Heart .
I put it to my hon. colleague: Who could that person be?