Mr. Chair, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change had committed to coming to see us by June 18, but we've learned that he won't be appearing on that date. As this is likely to be our last meeting, it will be impossible for him to testify. It is completely unacceptable that the minister refuses to appear before our committee and answer parliamentarians' questions.
We're seeing a lot of the minister in the House of Commons these days, which is great. We've even seen him answer the first questions during oral question period, which is fine. However, he also has a duty to answer questions from members of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, where we can get to the bottom of things, ask many more detailed questions and tackle many more themes. It's the minister's responsibility to be accountable.
It is totally unacceptable, Mr. Chair, that Mr. Guilbeault is not here and cannot answer questions for the parliamentarians in this committee. We have seen him many times in the House of Commons, which is great, by the way. He was the one who answered the leaders' questions in the first round. He was there. He's in the House. He's in the building, but he cannot attend the House of Commons committee. This is totally unacceptable and irresponsible, especially because he doesn't want to go into the deep questions we have when we are here, sitting in this room. We have had plenty of opportunities to talk to him. He has had plenty of opportunities to come here. He has decided not to answer questions from the parliamentarians in this committee.
This is shameful.