Mr. Speaker, they did not have the courage to vote it down. They adjourned debate because they did not even want to talk about it, and it was the Liberal majority on the committee that voted it down. I think we know where that comes from. At least when the Conservatives were in power they had the decency to empower the parliamentary secretaries to say that the PMO was going to run what happens at committee. Instead, now it happens in more subtle ways. However, at the end of the day, it is all the same thing, whether it is a punch in the face or a knife in the back. In this case, it is a knife in the back and not wanting to go ahead with what is going on.
Here is the problem. I have the utmost faith in the public service. This notion that we do not is ludicrous. If there truly is nothing wrong, and if we have faith in Mr. Jean, then let us have him before the committee, and he can repeat the statements that were made to the media. That is the minimum.
If this were some side conversation someone had overheard, or had these statements been obtained through some kind of subterfuge, I would understand. However, what I find extremely problematic, and it is a habit the Liberal government has gotten into, are comments being made through the media, the most public forum possible, and not having those comments made to a parliamentary committee. That includes technical briefings on legislation done for the media before they are done for MPs, and things of that nature.
Even if the Liberals want to reject the motion, they should at least have the courage to explain why, when the debate comes up, and not adjourn debate and run away with their tails between their legs.