Mr. Speaker, the great 18th century parliamentarian and outspoken advocate of representative government, Edmund Burke, warned the House of Commons about being bullied by cabinet over 250 years ago, when he warned that to:
...exchange independence for protection...will court a subservient existence through the favour of those of those Ministers...or those Secret Advisers—
Burke must have been talking about Gerald Butts.
—who ought themselves to stand in awe of the Commons of this realm.
I urge my colleagues across the way, especially those on the backbenches, to learn from Burke, to learn from the founders of Confederation from all parties, and to learn from recent prime ministers, such as Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper, and give this House the respect it deserves and maintain our parliamentary privileges.
Do not let the Prime Minister, his cabinet, and his unelected advisers change the Standing Orders without the unanimous consent of all parties.