Mr. Speaker, the speakership itself has been tested, unfortunately with some Speakers caught in the middle of scandals themselves. I have heard it said that it has all gone downhill since the last time a Conservative was elected Speaker, but I could not possibly comment on that.
In all seriousness, you are not a commissioner of Parliament but a servant of the House, and that is an important dynamic. You are held accountable by members, and each of us is accountable to our voters. Debates should be passionate; they should be lively. The lives of Canadians are changed by the decisions we make, so it is normal that members get enthusiastic and fiery. When the stakes are so high, often the best thing you can do is allow the players to play a little.
This is where the government is held to account. It has an enormous amount of power, and we parliamentarians must provide ruthless scrutiny on every dollar taken out of the pockets of Canadians, every infringement on their liberties and every single decision the government makes. Of course, every Parliament has its own unique challenges and messy moments, but as Winston Churchill said, “democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried”.
Mr. Speaker, we offer you our support and our best wishes for your speakership over this Parliament.