Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today and for participating in this study.
The committee realizes the importance of honeybees, which is why we are continuing our study on this. We had some witnesses last year, but we want to follow up on this, which is why we're having more meetings right now. Of course the reason we're studying the honeybee is because the humble bee plays such an important role within agriculture, not just producing honey but as we've been discussing, through pollination.
What I would like to do is first address my remarks to Clinton. You spoke very passionately about the honeybee and the national day of the honeybee. What I would like you to know is that every member at this committee table supports that initiative. We have in the past as well, and we have publicly done so.
What may not be so well known, though, and what I would like to explain is that when it comes to recognizing a national day of the honeybee, or of any other type of worthwhile endeavour, this has to be advanced by a member of Parliament in the House as a private member's bill. This is simply a well-accepted protocol. It's understood by all parties. All MPs understand that this is the protocol that is done to recognize a national day.
Just to give you an example, there was a national day to recognize philanthropists. I think that was advanced by a Liberal MP. There is a national day to recognize the works of John Paul II that's being advanced by another MP. These types of initiatives, although they're very worthwhile, need to be advanced by an MP using their private member's bill as an opportunity to do so.
So I just wanted to clarify that because that's not always well known.