In response to the honourable member with the fantastic bow tie, I would say that, as a committee, we always have the ability, quite rightly within our rights as a committee, to call witnesses back. I'm unwilling to accept the argument that just because the questions are written and go out that there isn't an opportunity for cross-examination. If we feel that somebody isn't being truthful or perhaps has provided contradictory testimony, we would always retain the right, as a committee, to call them back to this function.
From my perspective, when you talk about the to and fro, I can share with you that many of the meetings we've had to date have left me feeling pretty incomplete in terms of the opportunity to engage with people. I think it would actually be an opportunity for us to be less adversarial to allow somebody an opportunity to clarify something that was said or provide information that they didn't have at hand, rather than take the position that we feel maybe they weren't being truthful or maybe they were providing an obstruction, in our own opinions, and then recapitulate a fight to drag them back before this committee.
I actually look at it from an opposite perspective. This is an opportunity to prevent that by giving people the opportunity to reply in writing. I think if we could zero in on the number, I would agree with equity. If there was the opportunity to do that—by block or what have you, or three questions, or something reasonable—I would be happy to support that.
On the last point, we do have to get to a point where facts are established at this committee. I'll continue to repeat that and identify any instances where we don't feel like we're getting that work done. I think this is a way to do that.
I hope that we can find a common ground on this and move forward.