Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome to all the members and the new faces that have joined us. This is quite curious. In fact, I have two hypotheses. Mr. Trottier, our ideas are similar on this point. My first hypothesis is that we have become the most popular committee and that everybody wants a piece of it. The second is that everyone wants to find out what is going on. We shouldn't go so far as to sell tickets because we are quite well paid for the work we do. In fact, we really are overpaid for the work we are unfortunately unable to do as a result of the motion we are discussing. I will come back to that point.
That being said, I want to welcome all the newcomers who are joining us. Since the newcomers are on the government side, I hope that, having heard the arguments around this table, more and more of you will discuss among yourselves the necessity—I don't believe there is any other word for it—of persuading Mr. Menegakis, or Mr. Gourde, or any other person in authority, to withdraw this motion, which interferes with not only the right of parliamentarians, but also that of all citizens of this country, to see and hear the issues debated by the various parties seated around this table.
For those joining us, welcome to Democracy 101. This is the second class. We started on Tuesday. The time goes by so quickly. Before me, there was an excellent introduction by Ms. Michaud, whom I thank once again. She was preceded by Mauril Bélanger, whom I thank enormously and to whom I wish bon appétit.