I have a one-page statement, which I will preface by saying that your description of our conversation was accurate.
As Mr. Easter said, Mr. Soudas is responsible to the Prime Minister, and under parliamentary convention it's very rare for the Prime Minster to appear before a parliamentary committee. I'm here at the request of the Prime Minister, to represent him.
I have a short one-page statement, if you would indulge me.
With great respect, the government believes the opposition is playing politics with parliamentary committees and is not respecting due process and fair play. They are conducting random interrogations without due process or any rules of fairness. That might be how things work in the United States Congress, but it's not the Canadian tradition. In Canada the constitutional principle is ministerial responsibility. As a result, the government House leader today made a statement regarding ministerial accountability to Parliament.