Let me interrupt for a minute, because this came up in the point of order raised by Mr. Easter.
I'm going back to chapter 20 of Marleau and Montpetit. This is quite different from when we have public servants appearing before the committee, which we had yesterday. It reads:
There are no specific rules governing the nature of questions which may be put to witnesses appearing before committees, beyond the general requirement of relevance to the issue before the committee. Witnesses must answer all questions which the committee puts to them. A witness may object to a question asked by an individual committee member. However, if the committee agrees that the question be put to the witness, he or she is obliged to reply. Members have been urged to display the “appropriate courtesy and fairness” when questioning witnesses. Nevertheless, a witness who refuses to answer questions may be reported to the House.
So that is the rule applying to witnesses other than public servants.
Mr. Dewar, on this point of order.