Mr. Deans:

Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether I might direct a question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader. Is he able to give some sort of explanation of why so much legislation is being introduced the day before the House rises for the summer recess?

Mr. Deans:

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the generosity of the Hon. Member for Papineau (Mr. Oueilet). I am not the only one who makes such suggestions. I distinctly recall his own House Leader having made a suggestion not at all unlike this yesterday.

Mr. Deans:

Mr. Speaker, far be it for me to attempt to interfere with any Member's right to speak at whatever length he or she wishes within the rules. If it is the wish of the Member who has just spoken to continue to debate the Bill that is before us, notwithstanding the fact that we attempted to work out some kind of understanding to accommodate not only the Government but his own colleague, then, quite frankly, obviously the proposed House Order will not stand.

I want to make it clear that we are prepared to deal expeditiously tomorrow with the Canada Pension Bill that affords considerable benefit to a large number of people.

Mr. Deans:

No.

Mr. Deans:

I can well understand the political requirements.

I can well appreciate the need to suck up long after the date for atonement has passed. I can well appreciate the desire on the part of the Official Opposition to make it appear that somehow or other, by virtue of some massive transformation, they now represent the best interests of the people who work for the Parliament of Canada. However, I find it unbelievable.

I suspect that the overwhelming majority of people who asked the Liberal Government over the years for the right to organize, who for years sought from the Liberal Government a nod or even a wink which would have indicated some desire of some kind to allow them the right to bargain collectively, feel the same way.

It is not often that I find myself at odds with my good friend and colleague, the Hon. Member for Humber-Port au Port- St. Barbe (Mr. Tobin). However, I must confess that this evening he has taken me beyond the pale. He has driven me to my feet, which as you can understand, Mr. Speaker, is no easy task. It is rare that I rise in the House of Commons. However, on this rare occasion I want to say that I find his arguments to be absolute and utter nonsense.