Mr. Speaker, the short answer is that if the member who introduces a bill or motion wishes parliament to decide on it and have a vote, the right of the member should be respected. The answer is yes, unless the MP who introduced the bill or motion does not wish to deem it votable.
I will pick up on something else my hon. colleague raised. It was a very good point. I appreciate that he is supporting the motion we brought forward. The point he raised is that debate in the House is designed to convince colleagues that the position a member takes in debate is correct.
There is nothing in the motion that would override the principles of democracy. It would enhance democracy because it would allow minorities, through their elected representatives, to bring forth issues they feel are important to the whole country.
As members of the House listen to debate and engage in dialogue they will need to decide whether an issue deserves the support of the majority. That is why the motion would enhance democracy. It would allow all of us to make decisions on matters that a private member has deemed important enough to bring to the House.