To add to what Mr. Thibeault just said, I would note that at other committees where I have been a member, such as the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, when the Minister of Industry was unable to attend the meeting—he had already appeared to speak to the estimates—the ministers responsible for other functions within the department, for example the regional ministers for Economic Development Canada, came to give a presentation.
If the main minister cannot attend, it was perfectly normal for us to invite the minister responsible for an organization that reports to the department to give a presentation on the supplementary estimates.