I appreciate that it must have been very hard to arrange witnesses to come to speak. I've spoken to some of the witnesses whose names we submitted. The fact is, for example, that Mr. Doyle teaches at this time, so it's impossible for him.
However, I think it's really important that we do hear from other witnesses. We have a situation where the witnesses who are before us are very well informed, but they are the same people, coming from the same department that would have drafted this section of the budget bill. So if we are to suggest amendments to the finance minister or the finance committee, we don't have anybody here with an objective lens to say, “Well, here's how these pieces could be stronger, or better, or clearer”, because we're hearing from the folks who drafted....
I am seeking unanimous consent that we try our best to get some witnesses on Monday. We have one hour with the minister on supplementary estimates (B) and then we have another hour. I'm seeking unanimous consent to dedicate that second hour to hearing from other witnesses.
I know that on this side of the table MPs are certainly willing to deal with the report back in a subcommittee; we're willing to figure out an extra half-hour or hour, if we need to do that, to try to make it work. But I think it's going to be really challenging for us to give fulsome and adequate recommendations to the finance committee.... Sorry—is it the finance chair or the finance minister?