Mr. Chair, perhaps Mr. Cash is misunderstanding. The mandate of the museum will not be changed without an act of Parliament. Right now consultations are being undertaken by the museum from coast to coast to hear what Canadians have to say about this idea of recognizing Canada's history through the Canadian Museum of Civilization. After those consultations are done, the minister will come forward with legislation that he thinks Parliament should have an opportunity to debate.
Nothing has been decided. It's actually your job, as a member of Parliament, after the legislation has been tabled in Parliament, to read it over, see whether you like it, maybe propose some amendments, talk either for or against it, bring it here in front of this committee—that's the job that we actually do—and then propose witnesses who can talk for it or against it. Then as a committee we'll decide as a whole whether we agree or disagree with certain parts of the bill, or whether there should be amendments to the bill.
In fact, what has been done is that Parliament—Canadians—have been put at the front of the line and are being asked for their opinions before legislation is brought forward. Are you asking us to now go back and do the legislation first? That's not the process. That's why we're going through coast-to-coast consultations with Canadians.
We've presented an idea that we hope members of Parliament will take a look at when legislation is brought forward and they are asked for their approval, yes or no. This committee will have, I hope, more than one day to study this, to question the minister, to bring in the director of the museum and other people who might be a part of this museum, and get their rationale for bringing this forward. Then Parliament will make a decision together.