Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his excellent question.
If he had listened to one of my very first remarks, he would know that consultations were not necessary because today's debate is about the $58 million in funding that has already been voted. Parliament does not have the right to question statutory appropriations.
This motion is designed to make those in the other chamber aware that they will have to improve accountability in the short term. We have a different long-term vision for the Senate. However, for the time being, the senators need to be more accountable to Canadians, including the people of Sherbrooke, for the $92 million that they are given each year.
We did not need to hold consultations because the motion is designed to take $58 million away from the Senate. It will still have $34 million. The Senate will exist in the short term, even though that is not our goal in the long term. This will send a clear message to the Senate that it needs to be accountable so that Canadians know that their money is being spent in a transparent way. That is basic when an institution is spending taxpayers' money.