But while the American Constitution was the child of war, ours grew out of discussion, bargaining and negotiation.

If the institutions of parliamentary democracy are worth preserving, the duty to explain them to the people they are meant to serve becomes vitally important.

Question Period is not part of the legislative process,and has nothing to do with it. It is a means of monitoring the Executive that the Government cannot evade.

The purpose of privilege is not to place parliamentarians above the law, but rather to allow them to carry out their duties independently and effectively, in the national interest.

Democracy is not a form of government. It is a political philosophy that can be embodied in various systems of government.

Debates must take place in an atmosphere of courtesy.

In the long and dogged crusade that the human race has fought in favor of democracy, the ideal of liberty, of freedom, has always been the goal.

A careful and sympathetic sense of humour can also be a great asset when there is need to get out of difficult situations gracefully.

as I became Speaker in 1986, I made a point of setting up a public information office to respond to requests and provide information about Parliament and how it functions.

On a craggy bluff above the majestic Ottawa River stands the remarkable embodiment of our system of governance: Parliament.

It's the ride of life the journey from here to there living and loving every moment like we have none to spare.

You can't see and feel the sky if you keep looking to the ground.

Arrogance is believing only you're Right, Ignorance is believing only you're Wrong. Be Neither!

From my parent's generation the idea was not that marriage was about some kind of idealized, romantic love. It was a partnership. It's about creating family. It's about creating offspring.

Beware of economists who hide assumptions.

Nothing is worse than active ignorance.

Most liberals I know were for invading Afghanistan right after 9/11.

The English think that incompetence is the same thing as sincerity.

I think there is a very subtle shift from the metal I grew up on to Weezer. I think the big shift was from a minor key to a major key. That made a huge difference in how it was perceived.

Your mothers get mighty shocked at you girls nowadays, but in her day, her mother was just on the verge of sending her to reform school.