Thank you very much, Ms. Boniface.
I intentionally didn't raise my hand because I didn't want the plant interfering with you again.
I would just point out that obviously we'll have some differences of opinion as to what's routine versus what is not. I thought—and I think some of my Liberal colleagues thought—that these were fairly uncontroversial. I would just respectfully point out to Mr. Motz—and again, thank you for letting me address this now—that I think if we're going with only one panel, then having only two witnesses for a two-hour meeting would be not an efficient use of our time. That's why I was contemplating four or five witnesses for the full two hours, which is roughly two per hour. I think that's well within what committees are capable of, this committee and others.
I would just gently push back on this idea.... This committee does have resource limitations, as does every committee, and they may be exacerbated by things that are being suggested, including, potentially, the retaining of outside counsel.
I would also say that Canadians and this Parliament will benefit from our doing work that is thorough but also timely. We know there is no time limit prescribed within the statute or within the motion that created this committee, but this committee's work is also commencing now. Within 60 days an inquiry will commence. That informal inquiry must report back within one year of the invocation of the declaration, etc. Therefore, there are notional time parameters for the work we're doing, and I think it's incumbent on all of us to respect those time parameters for the benefit of all Canadians, so that they understand that a declaration of an emergency was invoked and that the study is being done and being done thoroughly but on a timely basis.
I will place in the hands of the committee members the ultimate question Mr. Green has put forward as to whether we should just defer this to a later date. I am conscious that, as he correctly points out, there is the matter of reporting within seven sitting days pursuant to...I forget the clause—it's around section 62 or 63—in the statute that says this committee must make some type of report back to Parliament, I believe, by next Tuesday. Perhaps that should be addressed immediately.
I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Madam Chair.