Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I rise today to inform the House of the very worthwhile conference I attended on the weekend on behalf of my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges.
Madam Speaker, the reinventing Parliament conference brought together Canadians from across the country to discuss alternatives for the meaningful renewal of Canada's Parliament, provincial and territorial legislatures and the electoral process.
It was sponsored by the Campbell West Foundation and hosted by the University of Lethbridge.
Madam Speaker, in recent years there have been numerous calls advocating parliamentary changes outside of the constitutional process. Clearly, Canadians remain disappointed with the way their governments work in Canada. The purpose of this conference was to bring academics, political practitioners and students together to assess the need for changing Canada's institution of government, reflect on available options and to set forth an agenda for action.
Madam Speaker, Brian Lewis, our Deputy Speaker, an alternate Member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, accompanied me to this conference. We both actively participated in workshop discussions and considered issues such as free votes, private Members' bills, legislative committees, the role of individual MPs and MLAs, changes to the rules governing confidence motions, direct participation by the public as an alternative to strict party discipline and the steadily increasing power of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Madam Speaker, our northern experiences regarding consensus government was very helpful and added a unique perspective to the examination of these issues.
Madam Speaker, I will be presenting more detailed information to my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges in the very near future and look forward to a more in-depth discussion in that forum as we attempt to make our system of self-government more responsible and responsive to those whom we serve. Thank you.
---Applause