Mr. Speaker, I rise today with some pride and some disappointment. I am sure there are members who realize that I have known you for many years, probably longer than anyone in the House. I have known you since you were an educator and an administrator. I have known you through many elections, including the first time you were elected as Speaker of this great House, which was repeated four years later.
Mr. Speaker, I know the task that you have, to look after almost 1,400 employees, a large budget and to administer the House. Part of it includes our table officers and the people who serve to make sure that the House operates in an orderly fashion.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that many times you have asked for order in the House, not for your benefit but for the benefit of members. Many times you have to bring to our attention the fact that we need to get down to the orders of the day.
I know that you as an individual like to give as much freedom as possible to members and people in the House, and that sometimes we end up taking advantage of that, to our detriment.
I am sorry the member for Edmonton North is not here, but the member for Saint John mentioned earlier that you very strongly practise democracy and freedom. You support, probably more than anyone else, the underdog, the minority, the parties with one or two members. You give them a chance to speak, to debate and to be part of this institution. You do it not looking at numbers, but looking at the individuals who represent the people of this country. I thank the member for Saint John for her remarks.
You also tried, for many years, to improve the decorum of the House, working with members of all parties to focus on the reason we are here, which is to serve the people of Canada.
While you were a member you were the chairman of many committees, no matter which party was in power, because your abilities were respected and you were known to deal fairly with the mandate of a committee.
As Speaker you are not here to favour one party over another; you are here to encourage debate. I know that you defend outright that the attacks in the House should not be personal, but to the issues of the day.
Mr. Speaker, I know you have a lot of respect for this institution called the House of Commons. I know you believe very strongly in the importance of proper debate and teamwork of one party, another party, the table officers and the requirement for many people to work together to make sure the House of Commons functions properly. I know you review the precedents of the House many times and use it as your guide. You also protect this fine institution not just for today but for tomorrow and many years to come and to protect our country, Canada.
Mr. Speaker, members have mentioned today that you have ruled in favour of the Reform Party and you have ruled not in favour of the Reform Party. I know you have ruled in favour of the Bloc Party and not in favour of the Bloc Party. You have done the same thing for the other parties, as the member for Saint John said. You have ruled in favour and you have ruled not in favour. You have ruled in favour of the government and you have ruled not in favour of the government. I believe that is why you are there as the Speaker.
To me, this is an example of your impartiality and respect for the House and the House rules that we approve for you to carry out. Mr. Speaker, it is for that reason that I find this accusation of non-confidence totally outrageous and very disappointing. Although people have said it is not a personal attack on your integrity, I am afraid it is. That is very disappointing to me.
I know of your patience and your fairness, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry, and will probably want to apologize, that the opposition has taken this opportunity to discredit you because they are trying to get at the government for no valid reason at all.
Before I conclude, I forgot to mention that I will be splitting my time with the member for Winnipeg South.
Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that I have full confidence in your ability to fulfil the office of Speaker of the House so we, as Canadians, can represent the 301 ridings. We are representing Canadians and we will do it to the best of our ability, as best possible as human-beings, for the good of our country called Canada.