Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Although I'm new to the committee, I did understand one thing in reading the motion to establish the special committee. Paragraph (i) stipulates that “the committee be granted all of the powers of a standing committee, as provided in the Standing Orders, as well as the power to travel”.
Basically, what that tells me is that this is a special committee, but one with the same powers as a standing committee. The committee is therefore empowered to do the same things as the Standing Committee on National Defence or the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, for example.
Madam Clerk, I know you don't participate in debate, but could you get back to us with confirmation on that?
The second point I want to make is that I would expect a committee like the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations not to behave like some bloated body that moves along at a glacial pace. It is imperative that the committee respond to situations. The antagonistic relationship between Canada and China is the very reason the committee was created. Our job is to step in. If an issue requiring the committee's involvement arises, we mustn't let anything bog us down, because that is our chief duty.