Thank you, Mr. Tilson. I accept your apology graciously and sincerely. I know that we do get into the heat of things, and I appreciate the gesture.
Colleagues, the only way I can simply put this is that I, as chair, am hoping that we will be able to discharge our responsibilities by completing our questioning of this witness and getting on with the other business that we had said we would deal with before we rise today. It's still my intent.
With regard to the matters we have been discussing for a short while, as simply as I can put it, I made an arrangement and an understanding with Mr. Mayrand for Elections Canada to be here. What was discussed and what has been represented to you is the arrangement that I made with Mr. Mayrand. Those are the terms and conditions under which he agreed to appear. I gave him my word. I notified all appropriate parties of that fact and I'm sticking by my word. I've taken a decision and I want to proceed with the remaining questions for Mr. Mayrand until members have completed them.
If Mr. Mayrand is invoking the sub judice convention, I think he will indicate so to us, and we have to accept that, because it's the deal that we made.
So I have no idea how long questioning is going to go on, but the sooner we start the sooner we will complete it.