It seems to me it would be best to add a couple of days. I'm sure there will be more witnesses, and we already know of some who will want to take part in this. As we remember from Bill C-257, it got to the point where we had so many witnesses that you didn't have a chance to hear from everybody.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I think the other suggestion is that if we don't want to add any more days, we could look at those who don't say they can come and we could slot them in on that basis.

The way it stands right now is that we'll hear from the sponsor on April 24. Once again, next Tuesday, we'll hear from the sponsor. In the afternoon, we'll hear different organizations.

On April 26, which is a week Thursday or a week tomorrow, we'll hear from the legal department and then some of the provincial governments.

On May 1 and 3, we'll hear from those who are for it and those who are against it.

It's the way the meetings have been laid out so far. There have certainly not been five who have committed, and we have invited five for each of those slots. If some people are not able to make it, maybe those who want to be added to the list could be added at that point in time.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB

To verify, at this point, we only have one day for those who are for it and one day for those who are against it?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

That is correct. The other day we have is for some legal associations, as well as government, and we have a balance of that.

To clarify, we have one day set aside for those who are for it and one day set aside for those who are against it. In addition to that, we have the government and organizations.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB

I think we may need to look at adding at least one more week to the schedule to get another day for and another day against. I think there will be enough witnesses.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

We extended the deadline for reporting.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you.

Mr. Martin, did you say you're okay?

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Yes. We put forward a calendar for the committee a short while ago. We agreed on the calendar at that time, and we thought we could get this work done. We're looking at the summer coming at us in a fairly big hurry, and we want to get this work done.

I personally think this is sufficient time to hear from people, both for and against, and the officials and provinces. We can then move on. By then, I think we'll all know whether we support it or we don't support it, and we will move on.

By extending it, we'll get into the same rigmarole we got into with a few other pieces of business that came before this House, and it doesn't add anything. At the end, it was actually a bit of a disaster, if I remember correctly. It didn't add anything positive or constructive to the debate.

I'm happy with what we have. I'd suggest that we stick with it and try to get the work done in that time period.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you.

I have Mr. Savage, followed by Mr. Lessard, and then Ms. Dhalla.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

My question was along the lines of Mr. Lake's and Mr. Martin's. In terms of the schedule, is it possible that we...? We haven't seen that list of witnesses yet, of who has agreed to come. Can that be circulated to our offices?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Most definitely, yes.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Have we not reached the deadline for witness submissions?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

We've reached that deadline. People have been contacted, and, once again, there were more witnesses who wanted to come than we had spaces for, so we made sure that we had both sides balanced, as we normally work in this committee, to those for and those against, and there were also governments that wanted to come. We have coming the Nova Scotia government, the P.E.I. government, the City of Toronto, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba. We have a wide variety of provinces.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

I think it's important to hear from Nova Scotia, but I was just asking--

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I had a feeling you might say that.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Even with a Conservative government. The thing I would say is we should have a look at that list of witnesses, and we need to have a drop-dead date this week by which point we would submit any further suggestions of witnesses. I think we should agree today that that would be Thursday or whenever the subcommittee meets. But I'd like to have a look at the list of witnesses to see if there's anybody I might make a case for trying to add.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

My suggestion is, why don't we have a look at that on Thursday. We'll give them another day or two to confirm and then we can send out the list of witnesses who have confirmed. How does that sound?

I have Mr. Lessard, followed by Ms. Dhalla, and then Mr. Lake.

Mr. Lessard.

5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Mr. Chairman, we cannot make the same mistake as during consideration of Bill C-257. The committee is not an open bar where anyone can come and testify. We want to grasp the two main schools of thought, and as you said earlier, achieve a balance between the two.

I agree with Mr. Savage, who is suggesting that we consider the issue on Thursday. Let us hope that we can avoid a repeat of the situation which occurred during consideration of Bill C-257. We had already heard from major national organizations, only to have partner organizations appearing before us to repeat what their national organizations had already said.

Once the committee becomes familiar with the respective opinions of the various sectors, we will already have a good grasp of the issue.

On Thursday, I would like confirmation on what had already been decided on, before inviting anyone, and it is particularly pressing because the deadline has passed. The opinion of the provinces is of the utmost importance. If a province wishes to appear but has not had the opportunity to sign up, that is something we may consider. I do not want to give preferential treatment, but rather particular consideration to the overall representations, rather than specific ones.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you, Mr. Lessard.

We have Ms. Dhalla, followed by Mr. Lake.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON

I want to echo what Mr. Martin and I believe Mr. Lessard said to a certain extent. We had a schedule that I think was agreed upon by the whole committee, and if there are witnesses who have not been able to attend and there is room within that space, I think we should only make that decision on Thursday to make sure there is fair representation.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you.

I have Mr. Lake and Ms. Yelich. I want to let everyone know that we're at about 5:27. We can stay until the bells ring. I don't know when that's going to be.

Fire away, Mr. Lake.