Thanks very much, Madam Chair.
I can understand the disappointment of all the members. I think we all would have liked to see the minister, but if he can't be here, he can't be here. We certainly cannot compel any minister to be here.
We have a lot of other things that we need to move on with in this committee, and I think we should go ahead with the meeting as you have suggested. If there is an opportunity for the minister to come at another time, we should pursue that. But if he can't be here in the timeframe that the clerk has offered, we need to move on and deal with the parliamentary secretary, as suggested.