Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make a couple more comments. I think it is very important that I bring out a couple points. We talked about this whole situation being an isolated incident, or not being an isolated incident, or is it why we are making our decision and what is it based on? Is it on this question?
Only I would like to just add a few things, Mr. Chairman. I have heard that in some comments today it seems to me I almost heard that I was sharing some information in the House on individuals' contracts. I want to clarify that I do not think I did that. I may have made reference to some conversations I had, I do not think I put any private information out here that I should not have. If I did, I am sorry, but I do not think I did.
One thing has bothered me all this time that these things have gone on, and I think it is an ongoing issue as to when you have trust and when you look at a Member that you have to work with and you have to respect, that sits across in a position of power to be able to make decisions for us in this House, and that you have to have the faith that you can work with those individuals and that they are going to support you as much as they are going to support anybody else in this House.
The last time that our Premier's leadership was questioned, we saw this gallery full of people. It was the only time in the three years that I have been in here that we saw the gallery full of people. Today, because the leadership of our Premier is in question again, the gallery is full again.
I think that I have to say this, that my position goes back a little bit further than just this one incident. It has to do back when this Assembly was full the last time, and the tactics that were used to pressure some Members in this House to make the decisions that were made. It is not in my practice, Mr. Chairman, to tape conversations, but I have one phone call that will not leave my mind.
As a Member of this Legislative Assembly, when I receive a phone call and I am told if you cannot stand up in this House and defend me and support me, you might as well pack your bags and go home. I wonder today if that same message is out there to every Member in this House, because it is a terrible way to try to run government, Mr. Chairman, and it goes a long way, for me, in making a decision. Can I support, go on, doing my job and think that I can represent my constituents in a fair, honest manner? It is a question I am having a hard time struggling with, Mr. Chairman.
I hope that because I stand by my principles, my morals, what I think is right, what I think is wrong, that I do not have to deal with somebody's wrath after, saying you did not support me, or you did not support us, so therefore, your constituents are going to suffer from it.
Mr. Chairman, my decision was made on my own, on my own beliefs, on the evidence that was before me. I am going to stick by my convictions because I have heard no excuse or no evidence in this House today that would make me change my mind in any way. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.