Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I support Mr. Martin's motion. I also agree with Ms. Jennings' amendment. I have no objection to removing the two or three names she suggested. I think that we have at last a balanced list, one that contains all of the categories of people we want to meet with, and this will mean we can do something intellectually rigorous, systematic and intelligent, we can continue and advance the discussion, understand what really happened and learn things, in particular what led to the search at the Conservative Party offices.
As stated in the motion, that will allow us to examine the ethics of the conduct of public office holders. That is our objective. In all sincerity, that is what has to be done.
I completely agree with Ms. Jennings' subamendment dealing with the subpoena. That is in fact an excellent idea. We know that the House does not have to be consulted for issuing subpoenas. This was not a subpoena duces tecum, it was a subpoena that people are ordinarily required to answer to with enthusiasm.
Our Conservative friends complain that none of the names they suggested have been accepted. They are laughing at us. This makes no sense. What kind of names did they suggest? We are examining the ethics of the conduct of public office holders. Why would Lawrence Cannon's name not be on their list? Lawrence Cannon holds public office and was the top campaign organizer in Quebec. If they had been acting scrupulously and in good faith, Lawrence Cannon would have been one of the first names they suggested.
We are talking about examining the ethics of the conduct of public office holders. How could they not have suggested Josée Verner's name? She is a minister, and so a public office holder, who paid $9,000 for an advertisement, while her colleague in the next riding, Sylvie Boucher, who was not even in her advertisement, paid $37,000.
We know now that there are senior officials in the Conservative Party who tried to cheat the system. We can see this from all the documents. I think that a Conservative MP has been cheated by her colleague Josée Verner. The fact is that when we want to examine the ethics of the conduct of public office holders, we have to invite these people. Why is it that you did not put them on the list? Why is it that you did not include people from Elections Canada on your list? Why is it that you did not put Retail Media's partners on your list? Why is it that you did no put your public office holders, your Conservative MPs, your defeated candidates and some experts on the Elections Act on your list? Do you really want to do something intelligent and worthwhile, and examine what really happened? That is the question we have to ask. No, you came here with names that were completely unrelated. None of the people you suggested is directly involved or has any expertise in the subject.
You have only yourselves to blame. You are talking about traps because someone calls for a vote or challenges the decisions of the Chair. Those are not traps. The real trap you have been laying for us for hours is obstructing the debate, using stalling tactics. That is the trap that the Conservatives the Conservatives constantly lay, and everyone can see it. You are talking about the search being leaked, and we are talking about public office holders. Those are the real traps.
I don't know how to do it, because I am not an expert in procedural traps like the Conservatives. But I would simply like us to vote. Would it be possible to ask for that, Mr. Chair, that we do it before 4:00? They are obstructing the process.