Mr. Speaker, there is good news: Canadians have the chance to take back their government.
Our coalition has brought forward a package of democratic reforms that offers Canadians a clear choice: one between power for the Prime Minister to make all the decisions or one that allows citizens to have a real and accessible say in how they are governed.
The coalition democratic reform task force offers a vision that includes an elected and reformed Senate, accountability and responsibility for individual members of parliament, and more opportunities for citizens to have a direct impact on the way they are governed.
This is a vision endorsed by our PC/DR caucus coalition. It is a vision endorsed by those of us who come from the reform Alliance tradition in this coalition. It is a vision endorsed by the Conservative Senate caucus. It is a vision endorsed by the Progressive Conservative management team.
This plan has the opportunity to draw Canadians, yea, political parties together to replace the Liberals who operate by the maxim, “We're the government. We can do whatever we want.”
To any naysayers let me say that this is our culture, this is our raison d'être, this is our chance.