Thank you for those questions.
In the first half of the 39th Parliament, the parliamentary secretary was not on the subcommittee. In the second half I was there, at the suggestion of John Godfrey, and that worked better.
The purpose of the subcommittee is to provide suggestions. Rather than this body, we break down to a smaller group and discuss a possible agenda. That proposed agenda, if we can reach consensus in that smaller group, is forwarded on. We found it to be a much better use of our time to have me there. Otherwise, I was not able to share with the committee what the government would like to see.
Of course, the committee is master of its own destiny, and we can move on, but it was important to have representation from the government at that committee.