Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations on your appointment. I'm pleased to have you there, because you know a lot about health issues.
First of all, let me say that I think it's too long to wait for the minister until June 8. As Madam Gagnon has pointed out, we may be adjourning, and for a long time I think this has been a number-one issue for Canadians.
We have not talked about wait times here. I would like to bring that up. As you well know, we have been wrestling with that. The parliamentary secretary has indicated the government wants to fulfill some of these promises. Well, you're the government, and now I would like them fulfilled. I will be in full support of that, and I would like to see that charge ahead.
I think the minister needs to come earlier. I also think that if he comes on the eighth, we will probably need to book him right after that for another date, because I don't think the eighth is going to be enough time for what we need to discuss when we talk about other issues. I think we need more time with the minister.
I'd request that you think about that and ask him to put aside maybe two dates for us. With it being the number-one health issue, we would then want him to pay that due respect.
I would respectfully request that you do that, Mr. Chairman.