We have yet to receive the report on plans and priorities, which the minister himself said, according to my notes, should be here by March 15. I understand that the House won't be voting on this until June 23, according to my notes. I asked the minister whether he would come back to committee, and he said he would certainly make every effort to come back to committee so that we could ask him further questions once the plans and priorities are tabled.
Mr. Hoback lauded the fact that the minister always makes himself available, and I expect that he will make himself available. So frankly, I find it almost reprehensible, irresponsible of us to continue when we have the opportunity to ask more questions, given the billions of dollars that are being spent, the very little time in which we've had an opportunity to review the entire book of estimates—only three days—and the fact that this is being placed before us and frankly pushed upon the Canadian public without a proper vetting, without an absolute, proper probing. It's tantamount to what happened last year with the omnibus bills. It really is unnecessary.
I would ask the consent of the committee to wait until the minister has had the opportunity to table the plans and priorities and we to ask further questions. I'm seeking consent for us to do the responsible thing and not rush this forward.