Madam Speaker, I welcome the reference to my high regard for the minister because, ultimately, as a partisan, he may not recognize my being less than biased.
I am sure the comments of the information commissioner or the privacy commissioner, and the comments that have been made by those people who are in the business of keeping an eye on the government, and the fact that the minister scores so high on both fronts, is worthy of comment and I appreciate the opportunity to repeat it.
I have great regard for the member who asked the question. One of the reasons I have that regard is because I know he is effective in his riding in getting things for his constituency. Are the programs that are represented by this department not so important as to be tainted, perhaps not by this member but by others, by what is obviously a politically motivated assault on the kinds of programs that members across the way simply do not believe in? It is that simple.
I know that is not the case with the member across the way. I believe he supports these programs. We sat on the committee together for a long time. We have made great progress, particularly since this minister became the minister responsible for this department, and the member knows that. The report that was written by the committee was an important report. The member has been talking about the kinds of things which are in that report for many years.
It is important to recognize when progress is made, and progress has been made. I would ask the member if he does not fear that by being party to this politically motivated assault may have the effect of jeopardizing programs which I know have been very generous to him. I would want him to think about that.