Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past week and a half this House has had more debate than we have had in the first nine months of this Government. At times it has been heated. Mr. Speaker, the debates have shown the public that we are working and grappling with continued cuts and downsizing. This type of debate is healthy as long as it stays on the topic and does not get personal.

You cannot expect twenty-four people to agree on every item, or issue. Constituency concerns may take precedence over House concerns and visa versa. So be it. In some circles being consistent on every issues seems to be the utmost of importance, but being consistent on every aspect, or program, or issue, only demonstrates rigidity and the belief in the infallibility of a decision or stance.

Maybe the forward collective believes in consistency, but that does not make it right. A Member first and foremost has the legislative right to vote on any issue, any way they choose. Not voting with a majority in a consensus government style, like this House, could and sometimes does ostracize a Member.

I think it is important to remember other aspects of a Member's work in this House. Are they present for all the meetings? Do they keep up with all the committee issues? Do they ask informed questions? Are they habitually late or do they come and go from meetings as they feel like it? If a Member asks lots of questions in the House, are the questions judged on their merit, or frequency? Personally I would rather hear five questions from the same Member than one flippant question from another Member.

Over the next several months we will have more heated debate concerning the deficit reduction targets and the strategies of this Government. I look forward to this open debate and I think the public does, and needs to see this in the public forum in this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.