Mr. Speaker, if the government was true to its word, true to the commitments that it made during the last election, obviously it would take the position of allowing its members to have a free vote. However, we know that very little of what the government promised in the last election has been acted true upon. Therefore, now that the PMO has muzzled Atlantic Canadian MPs in standing up for Atlantic Canadian representation, it is integral on their part that they truly are here doing what Atlantic Canadians sent them to do, which is to stand up against the Prime Minister and to stand up for Atlantic Canadian representation. The first step toward doing that is to support this common-sense motion.
In the House of Commons on September 22nd, 2016. See this statement in context.