Checks and balances are essential in committee work, in this committee. The focus is that we hear witnesses.
It's been on the books that yes, the opposition has the capacity to block by not showing up. That's the issue the government side seems to have on this. That's what's been on the books. That's our check.
Your check, actually, is sitting as the chair. We cannot hear witnesses unless the chair agrees or the chair agrees to pass on his responsibility to the vice-chair. That's your check.
The proposal the government is putting forward right now is actually asking for permission to give the government the capacity to block witnesses' statements. That's what this amendment is all about.
You're complaining that “you guys on the other side have the capacity to block, so we should have the capacity to block as well”.
It may seem uneven from where you're sitting, but the opposition has the role that it has, and you have the chair that you have. Now let's vote once again on this motion.