Mr. Chair, I think we as a committee have a responsibility for Canadian heritage and issues around arts and culture. While this is obviously focused on that area, it's also focused on the issue of poverty. That issue has been much studied in other parliamentary committees and in other venues. In some ways I worry about duplicating work that has already been done, albeit this motion is specific to artists, but I think the committee's time could be much better used in focusing on arts and cultural issues other than this one.
I'm not going to support this motion, and it's not because I don't empathize with where Ms. Mourani is coming from or her intentions with regard to the motion; it's just that the issue around poverty has been much studied. I think there are many other issues this committee could study that would be more effective in advancing the arts and cultural agenda in this country.