Order.
Members of the committee, first of all, I'd like to welcome the minister.
An item has been brought up to me by Mr. McGuinty. It's basically a procedural thing, and I'd like to address it very briefly.
I would just let you know that when we had the initial communiqué to members, we said we were going to deal with main estimates. The reason I put that in was the fact that the supplemental estimates had been reported back on Monday, March 19. Our meeting, of course, was on March 20. So my decision was simply to put that as main estimates. However, I should make it very clear that the minister had said he would talk about absolutely anything. If the members wanted to talk about the supplementary estimates, the main estimates, even the migration of turtles in the Galapagos Islands, he was prepared to talk about that. I did make that very clear.
I should also explain to the committee that I did attempt to talk to Mr. McGuinty about his motion. I sent a message to him in the House on Monday, March 19. I got a reply from Mr. McGuinty saying that he was too busy doing interviews and could not see me that day. At 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning, we contacted his office, and again I was told he was too busy to see me. I arrived at 10:45 for our meeting on Tuesday, and again, Mr. McGuinty was not here until after 11 o'clock. So I did have to do it through Mr. Regan, and did communicate that message. I'd just like to clarify that for members.
As a result of that, I asked the clerk to send out new information after that motion was passed, simply saying that we would deal with the main estimates, the supplementary estimates. But again, and I repeat, the minister has agreed to come back at any future time. We have until the end of May to deal with the main estimates, so today we can talk about the supplementary estimates.
I'm not vetting any opposition member's questions. Obviously you can ask whatever you want about whatever you want, however you want—all goes, because the minister has agreed.
Now, I must say that in my 14 years here, I haven't had the privilege of having a minister who has said he would answer anything about anything in his portfolio. I'm very pleased that he is here prepared to answer any questions you want. If the committee wants to talk about supplementary estimates right from now through the next two hours, I'm sure the minister is happy with that. If you want to talk about the main estimates, then that's what you're going to talk about.
That's just to clarify the air so that everyone understands that this meeting is open and the minister is prepared to answer any questions.
Mr. McGuinty.