Martin, You raise a really good point about the quality of debate in the House of Commons. Unfortunately it doesn't always look very productive, and minority governments often make the bickering more intense. It can be very frustrating. But at the same time, it still is the venue for bringing up the issues that matter to Canadians, and many of the issues raised in Question Period get picked up by the media, which allows the ideas to spread further. And more importantly it is a venue where the government has to answer questions about their actions and be held accountable by the opposition. You make a good point about the work of committees as well. I have sat in on a number of committees and the nature of debate often seems more productive. But in the case of prorogation, committees are closed. During Parliamentary breaks, such as during the summer or over Christmas, committees can still meet, but during a prorogation they cannot. They have to start all over again, often with some shifting in the membership, once the new session starts.