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

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

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”