Statement made on 14 November 2007 by Senator Jean Lapointe (retired)
Hon. Jean Lapointe:
Honourable senators, it will certainly do the Leader of the Government in the Senate good to be asked a question that is not about the issue that has been on everyone's lips since Question Period began.
As the Leader of the Government knows, she possesses extraordinary qualities that I mention every time I have the opportunity to speak to her. But as much as she is an outstanding and sometimes very fast skater — although today I have found her slower than usual, but that is another matter — the Conservative leadership is proving that, with her way of delaying Bill S-213 on video lotteries, she seems to be able to skate backwards.
When this bill received second reading in the House of Commons, the vote was 159 to 109.
Does the Leader of the Government not realize that by delaying the adoption of this bill, she is going against even her government's democratic logic? Not only have my honourable colleagues in this chamber adopted this bill twice, but the elected representatives in the other place have voted to study it in committee.
Because Parliament was prorogued, the bill came back here to the Senate, and I can understand that rule. But why are some members of the Leader of the Government's caucus deliberately delaying the adoption of this bill when it has already been examined by two different committees that have issued their reports and it has twice been adopted by the Senate? I would also like to mention that our Speaker voted in favour of this bill.
In case you are not aware, nearly 78 per cent of Canadians support this bill. New Brunswick supports it and has just eliminated half of its video lottery terminals.
Does the Leader of the Government not believe that the Conservative Party should go back to the drawing board with regard to its plans to reform the Senate, because Bill S-213 proves that this party is sabotaging the institution?
Before you answer this multi-part question, I must tell you that if something does not happen in the next week, I will be forced to hold a press briefing to tell Canadians about this. The Leader of the Government can take me at my word.
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