Mr. Speaker, there is a truism in human affairs that actions speak louder than words.
The government talks a lot about the democratic deficit and how the new Prime Minister will address it. It will be a whole new regime under this new Prime Minister. Things will be different. Members of Parliament will really have a say in what goes on. There will be open debate. There will be free votes.
In the first week that the government has been back with a new Prime Minister, guess what. An offer of free votes has been mysteriously withdrawn. An offer of full and fair debate on an important matter on which legislation will come back before the House, chopped off, closure. That is not democratic reform. That is not actions that prove the words.
I want to ask the government House leader this. Is it not true that this is simply the same old corrupt, undemocratic franchise under new management?