Thank you, Chair.
I appreciate the difficulty of the circumstances you've been placed in this morning, Chair. At the same time, I agree with Madam Freeman that Mr. Baird is a very charming guest of the committee. However, I don't think we should cede to the government control of our agenda as a parliamentary committee. I don't believe that government ministers, no matter how well placed, should simply show up and expect to testify before this committee. The committee has an agreed work plan. The committee had agreed on a witness for this morning, and I believe we need to adhere to that work plan.
If down the road somebody wants to suggest that the Minister of Transport would have something to add to this discussion, then we could entertain that conversation. But I don't believe we should upset our agenda this morning to hear from the Minister of Transport--and it's not clear to me that he has anything relevant to offer to this discussion.
I think it would be a different circumstance if it were as happened when Mr. Sparrow was with the committee, and his boss, the Minister of Human Resources, accompanied him to that meeting. I think the chair made an appropriate ruling in that circumstance, when the minister appeared unannounced. When he offered that she could offer advice but was not allowed to answer the questions that were to be put to the witness the committee had called, I think that was a very appropriate decision of the chair. I also think it was a very appropriate decision of the minister to attend that meeting and demonstrate her sense of responsibility for her political staff.
That's not what we face this morning. Mr. Soudas doesn't appear to be here and doesn't appear to be willing to address us this morning. As much as I know that the Minister of Transport has interesting things to say and is an interesting observer and player in this Parliament, in the government, I don't see the relevance of his appearance this morning. And Mr. Soudas isn't with him, in any case.
Therefore, I have to disagree with the chair's decision to accommodate his appearance. I believe we should deal with the matter of Mr. Soudas's failure to appear and then move on to the other issues that are on our published agenda.
Thank you, Chair.