Mr. Speaker, I certainly do not want to do anything to offend you.
The last two paragraphs are as follows:
“The evidence is now very clear that [the] Minister [Minister of National Defence...misled the House of Commons and Canadians”, said [the member from Lakeland, the Canadian Alliance defence critic]. “Of course the Vice-Admiral would give the Minister a full briefing--our military personnel are thorough and professional at all times. It's a shame that the Minister chose to [mislead] Canadians. And it's sad that we had to pull Mr. Maddison away from his important duties to show that the deception was indeed intentional”.
[The] Alliance Deputy House Leader [the member for Renfrew--Nipissing--Pembroke] added, “I hope that [the] Minister [Minister of National Defence] will now be willing to come forward and admit that his misleading statements were indeed intentional. Now that his explanation has been contradicted, the right thing to do would be to admit that he...misled the House of Commons, and Canadians”.
That was the press release upon which these allegations were made. I appreciate being allowed read it for the record because it was important.
The Liberals were successful in using their majority to shut the committee down and to kill the democratic process but I will not allow them to intimidate or stop me from voicing my views or the views of my constituents. I have taken an oath as a member of parliament and have an obligation to protect my freedom of speech and to protect the freedom of speech of my constituents. I think the member is interfering in that right.
The behaviour on the part of the parliamentary secretary is the type that has marginalized this House and its committees over time. This government has mused and mouthed words that it wants parliamentary reform. We hear that in here all the time. However, until it actually backs its words up with appropriate behaviour, its lofty pledges concerning parliament will be dumped into the trash bin of history.