Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I will keep my comments very brief.
The motion is certainly quite extraordinary. To hardly allow a calculator into the room is quite something when we are dealing with the issues that I believe Canadians have tasked Canada's Parliament and its political leaders to deal with. I have great concern that these limitations would be put on proceedings of this committee or would so specifically dictate what a specific outcome should be with respect to a committee's direction. It's very limiting. It puts a stranglehold on how this committee would be able to proceed within the context of dealing with a motion that was passed just the other day.
Mr. Fergus has referred to trying to preserve the integrity of this committee, and I agree, but I think that it's incumbent upon all members to ensure that the integrity of this committee is preserved and that there is a trust associated with that to do what's right. Ultimately it's Canada's Parliament that has to hold its government to account. Suffice it to say that I won't be supporting the motion, but I would say very clearly that in relation to the data, the information, that's been asked for, within the full scope of the motion that was adopted yesterday, it should be treated with respect, just as we should treat all aspects of the work we do in this committee with the utmost respect and care for the offices that we hold.