This is just a bit of history on it.
I sent a letter out to all the committee members a little while ago, because as chair I can't table a motion. I asked Mr. Storseth if he would be interested.
Our committee had the highest witness expenses of any committee in the House of Commons last year, and I take that as an embarrassment. It wasn't always abused, but I can think of examples where it was.
Brian's motion—and I'm not trying to take over your discussion on it, Brian—gives us discretion so if we feel strongly that we need more than one witness to come from an organization, we can do that.
Many of the groups or organizations we have come before this committee have representatives in Ottawa who they can send here. They don't always have to send somebody from across the country. I'm not trying in any way to stop somebody from coming from the east or west coast or halfway in between. That's not the objective. Quite often we've paid expenses for two or more witnesses when, in my opinion, it has been unnecessary.
Mr. Storseth, that's where this comes from.
Malcolm.