Madam Speaker, the Canadian system as we have inherited from the mother parliament at Westminster is quite unlike the American system where it has the three major segments of governments, and the courts are recognized as such. We do not have that here. We could discuss that and could perhaps join hands in that spirit because I believe all parliamentarians when they come here have a desire to be honourable, are honest and respectfully desire to carry out their duties without favour. That is common for all MPs who come and go from this place.
However something happens somewhere in the inner regions of government when legislation is delivered or the administration of governance is given where we translate so-called public policy and the rubber hits the road, whether it is with contracts or appointments. We see the various complaints and sometimes the police investigations that follow.
It must be disturbing to members on all sides of the House when they see these inconsistencies, especially when they are not part of the government and backbench MPs, to find that this is so inconsistent with the hopes, dreams, aspirations and sense of self that they came to Parliament with, the ethics and honesty in representation.
I want to join with the member opposite in trying to provide an element of accountability.
I use the simple analogy perhaps when I talk to school children about limits. We have speed limit signs everywhere but if there never is enforcement of those speed limit signs, they very soon just become another piece of advertisement on the roadside. However because from time to time someone does get caught for speeding and has to pay a fine, the speed limit signs do have some meaning. It is the same thing with the Treasury Board guidelines and rules for ethics.
Now we are bringing in a new bill to improve the ethics of the House with a commissioner. It has to work but there has to be consequences. We have to know what the rules are. If the government is selling us short by trying to have something in name but not in substance, then we all have a concern about that.
The judiciary sometimes is in the same position. Its decisions are appealable. Because of cost factors and access to court in some respects, it is becoming more accountable, especially for the average citizen.