It's hard to oppose virtue, but I find it somewhat paradoxical that this motion is being brought forward after study of the bill has already commenced, after we have already heard shocking testimony from scientific experts and after the government has made its position known. I'm not opposed to the motion, but I do hope that the committee will not make a habit of opening the discussion up to the general public after it has begun to study a bill.
I would have preferred to see the motion tabled earlier. We always agreed to have committee meetings televised and to have as few in camera sessions as possible, particularly when the time came to set out the agenda and our list of witnesses on BillC-311. Not every opposition party felt the same way, but I'm pleased today to support this motion, even if it is a little late in coming.