Mr. Chairman, I would just add that this is difficult. I asked that we go into in camera proceedings to discuss the business of this matter. You've made the ruling, but I don't agree with it. I respect you for it, but I can only emphasize that it's another example of why we should be discussing this in camera.
The whole idea has now come out that the subcommittee had legal advice. We had two lawyers there, giving us advice on a whole slew of matters. Quite frankly, I think it's appropriate that the committee receive that legal advice. Even with your ruling, you would agree that legal advice should be held in camera and that there might be legal questions that members of the committee will ask.
Incidentally, I'm not sure I agree with your contention at the beginning of this meeting that I can go to my colleagues and talk about what went on in that subcommittee meeting. The contents of that meeting shouldn't really get out until this meeting. The minutes should be in private session, because even now we're talking about lawyers. It has now come out that we had two lawyers come and give us legal advice, which is true. Two lawyers came and gave us legal advice on a wide range of issues. I believe members of the committee should have an opportunity to ask those same types of questions.
Mr. Martin will say I can go and tell my colleagues. Well, I'm not so sure I can do that. I'm not sure you can go and talk to your caucus about those sorts of questions. There may be other questions that members of this committee may have of those lawyers. Quite frankly, they should be asked before we hear witnesses. What rights do we have to ask certain types of questions? What are the repercussions of testimony that may be coming?
We're talking about breaching the provisions of the Information Act, and those are very serious allegations. Someone may or may not make those allegations during this committee hearing, whatever number of days they're going to last. Before we get into that, lawyers should come here, and it should be quite clear to members what their legal rights are, as members of Parliament, to pose questions and to make statements with respect to these matters.
Mr. Chairman, I quite frankly believe that before any proceedings start, before witnesses such as the professor, Mr. Esau, and the person from the foreign affairs department come, we should have a whole slew of introductory briefings before we proceed with that type of hearing. That's not being done.