Mr. Speaker, Canada has a tradition of ministerial responsibility. That means that cabinet ministers are responsible for what happens in their names and to Parliament. Canadians expect those in charge to account for their staff and this situation is no different.
The tradition of ministerial responsibility is as old as Canada itself. That is why Conservative cabinet ministers answer questions in question period and that is why they appear before committees to answer for their offices.
The Liberal leader wants to do away with this tradition. Instead, he wants to import the foreign U.S. committee system that is used as a political weapon to bully, intimidate and to humiliate opponents, something we will not allow.
We hope that all opposition committee chairs will follow the rules and procedures, rather than conduct kangaroo courts as they have been doing.