Electoral Reform committee  What I'm finding in a lot of this discussion is that we're really talking about the fact that people who do not vote for their member of Parliament are somehow not represented. I agree with Ms. Romanado: every MP I know is constantly trying to make their tent bigger. If they're not trying to make their tent bigger, it's shrinking.

Electoral Reform committee  I want to start by thanking all three of our witnesses, I'm very glad to see my old friend John Duncan here, so if he says something you don't like, be nice. I'm even happier to see Donna here. Most of my questions, I have to say, are—

Electoral Reform committee  That's not fair. We worked together on a lot.

Electoral Reform committee  Well, I happen to agree with Gordon Gibson that this is probably the most fundamental constitutional question that we have, how we elect our representatives. When he listed his three constitutional quagmires that the Prime Minister should stay away from, this was number one on his list.

Electoral Reform committee  He is very familiar with citizens' assemblies, having been involved in the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in British Columbia in 2004-05—

Electoral Reform committee  Absolutely.

Electoral Reform committee  It was never a discussion I was party to.

Electoral Reform committee  What I would like to say is that the prairie provinces and British Columbia are not the same entity. We have a long populist history in British Columbia, and we've dealt with a lot of referendums. The words were used today that this is too complicated for a referendum. Well, we got very engaged in the Charlottetown referendum as a population, and thank goodness we collectively made the right decision.

Electoral Reform committee  But others are making that point.

Electoral Reform committee  Things are not too complicated for the population.

Electoral Reform committee  Thank you very much, Ms. Byford. We'll go now to the Honourable John Duncan, for 10 minutes, please.

Electoral Reform committee  Thank you very much. I'm pleased to be here today. I'm not here as an expert in electoral systems, but did serve as an MP on northern Vancouver Island for 19 years. I believe I'm an expert in the challenges of representing a large rural riding, so that's what I'd like to discuss today.

Industry committee  I'd like to take this opportunity to also acknowledge my colleagues here with me this afternoon: Minister Chagger, responsible for small business and tourism; and Minister Duncan, who is responsible for science; and of course my deputy minister John Knubley and my associate deputy minister Kelly Gillis. Mr. Chair, I am here today as Canada's first Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for attending and participating. However, I think the minister is misleading the House. She stated that Bill C-14 enables autonomy and access to the majority of those requesting the right to assistance in death. In fact, the bill excludes a whole category of persons, including my constituent, John Tuckwell, who is suffering immeasurably under ALS and has been forced to go to the courts to get assistance in dying.

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the presenters from British Columbia. It's nice to see some people from the west coast here. Before I get started, I want to echo Susan's comments about the importance of this agreement and this industry to British Columbians. Coming from a community on Vancouver Island, Port Alberni, where forestry is the job creator, I know it's the driving economic industry in our region.