Thank you, Mr. Tilson. I think it's a very good summary and I'm very familiar....
And I want to reaffirm to you that in my opinion and from my knowledge and consultations, the amendment before us indeed is in order. As you know, even if the chair were to issue a summons, the person for whom that summons was issued could still not appear, at their choice, and that matter then goes to the House. So there is that second step.
But as far as authority to issue a summons is concerned, the committee has that full authority under Standing Order 108. I'm very sure of that, I want to assure you.
Between the two of us, maybe we'll spend a little time together, at some appropriate time, just to review. Maybe there is a suggestion or two we want to make with regard to changes to the Standing Orders.
Now, colleagues, there are no more speakers, and therefore I am going to put all the questions necessary to dispose of the motion now before us. Madame Jennings has moved that the motion be amended by adding, after the words “Robin Sears”, the names Jean Landry and Lise Vallières; and by adding after the words “August 11, 2008”, the following: “and that the chair be authorized, at his discretion, to summons any witness who may be summonsed who refuses the committee's invitation to appear”.
The first vote is on the amendment, which would delete two more names from the list and authorize the chair, at his discretion, to summons if necessary—if necessary, not all. So I want to put the question on the amendment deleting those two names and giving the authorization to summons at the discretion of the chair.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6 ; nays 4 )