Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to ask fellow committee members what value they believe they or the people of Canada are going to receive for $105,213.
I'm sure the idea forum, as it has been proposed, will attract all the Michael Geists and others of the world, and probably a major number of the people who have already given testimony to the committee. Those who are interested in the work of the committee on this topic have the opportunity to watch this on television or follow it in Hansard or on the Internet, and without a doubt they will be energized to present information to us anyway. At the risk of being provocative--and I don't intend to be--I don't think the average person walking down Sparks Street or Granville Street or Yonge Street in our major centres is even going to be aware of this idea forum. As I say, my submission is that the vast majority of people who would take time to be involved in this idea forum are people who are currently going to be involved in any event.
I'm suggesting that it is not a good use of $105,213. I think that if we're trying to be prudent, we would do well not to accept this proposal.