Mr. Speaker, I congratulate your ruling as well as the good discretion exercised on the part of the government House leader to back off.
This question of privilege arises out of a matter the affects not only members of the House but those in the public who are watching very closely as Bill C-20 proceeds through the Chamber and eventually goes to the other place.
On the government website as of this morning the committee reports with respect to the progress of the legislative committee and the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence that were heard between the dates of February 14 and February 24, that short time allotted for the committee to contemplate Bill C-20, are shown as unavailable or not available to those who would be tracking the process of what was taking place in the committee.
There is a window on this world that occurs when the evidence is posted on that website. This window is essentially closed and the blinds are pulled. This technical line of communication is a very important and very symbolic site where the government and members of the opposition have the opportunity to communicate over the Internet and on the government website on what is taking place. It is a very important lifeline and form of communication.
This question of privilege concerns the ability of members of the House to review, to re-examine and to contemplate what has already taken place in committee with respect to this bill, which has been given a great deal of priority. There has been tremendous pomp and ceremony about the importance put forward by the government on Bill C-20 and yet to date, for some unknown, unexplained reason, this information is not available on this website.
We already discussed at length previously today and on other occasions the inability of the opposition or others in government, for that matter, to move amendments. Similarly I would say that this absence of information on the government website impacts on the ability of members of parliament and others to reflect on what has taken place already in this process.
Perhaps there is a good reason it is not available, but if it is part of the procedural ambush we have seen in the past I would suggest that it is improper and I would be prepared, with your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, if you find there is a prima facie breach of privilege, to move the necessary motion.
It is the Canadian public and all members of parliament who are affected by the absence on the website.