Mr. Speaker, it is true that we should act quickly. I would quote the Prime Minister, who said that we had to eliminate the democratic deficit or, at the very least, reduce it, to make sure we expand the role of the members of Parliament in the House of Commons. This could be a very clear example of talk becoming reality. Thus, when this House votes in favour of a motion or a bill, the government should act quickly to adopt it.
I will return my colleague's serve and say that private members' bills very often impact our communities and Canadians directly. In the current parliamentary process, each member can introduce, for all intents and purposes, only one bill during a given parliament. I know that there is currently a lobby to allow members to introduce two bills, which would effectively double their chance of being adopted.
To address the democratic deficit, I also believe that the government should consider this suggestion, made by several members, very carefully. Private members' bills often get things moving immediately and directly for the respective communities. With all due respect for the departments, when ministers introduce a bill for the government, our concerns are often on a different level.
In conclusion, I believe that, in order to reduce the democratic deficit, we should increase the number of private members' bills. This would give the members a greater role in this House and our communities a greater level of representation.