Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to be careful in the way I answer. As members know, the clerk's role is simply to provide advice to the committee and not to provide his or her opinion on something.
Procedurally, the motion before us has been properly moved, and procedurally the motion is properly before the committee.
As members know, the committee is the master of its own proceedings and how it manages its own business. Whether adopting this motion would have an impact on the House, as I stated before, it's hard for me to determine what the Speaker would say if such a report.... What would the Speaker do after we report a bill back if this were in place? I wouldn't be in a position to substitute my judgment for his.
Strictly procedurally speaking, Mr. Chair, my opinion is that it's properly before the committee and the committee can make a decision on the motion as it's worded.
Obviously, as I stated, I can't comment on what the impact would be beyond this committee, as my role is simply to advise the committee within these four walls. What ultimately happens in the House is up to the Speaker and his advisers, who will advise him throughout the legislative process.