Discussion · Government Orders
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal
“I want us to pass this motion. When a government has a majority of the seats in the House, it should also have a majority on committees. That is our tradition, it works well, and we should keep following it.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we should be looking at the motion for what it is. It is very straightforward. For majority governments, there is parliamentary tradition, not only here in Canada but also outside it in the Commonwealth. If a majority of membership makes up the House of Commons, a majority of membership makes up our standing committees. There is a very good reason for it. There is no reason for us to go against a tradition that has actually been very effective for Canada as a nation for generations, and I would hope the Conservatives see the value of it. I am sure that if the shoe were on the other foot, they would probably see the value in it. Does the member not believe that we should be following parliamentary tradition?”
Mr. Speaker, I think we should be looking at the motion for what it is. It is very straightforward. For majority governments, there is parliamentary tradition, not only here in Canada but also outside it in the Commonwealth. If a majority of membership makes up the House of Commons, a majority of membership makes up our standing committees. There is a very good reason for it. There is no reason for us to go against a tradition that has actually been very effective for Canada as a nation for generations, and I would hope the Conservatives see the value of it. I am sure that if the shoe were on the other foot, they would probably see the value in it. Does the member not believe that we should be following parliamentary tradition?