Yes, that's right. It's not like that name has never come up before.
How did those two witnesses end up on the list? I am surprised, but that is what the House asked for. They were added to the list further to testimony provided before the committee in relation to a single witness, Ben Chin.
In summer 2020, a news conference was held about everything that had happened in the WE Charity matter. I am going to quickly go over what happened. In March, the matter was reopened and a motion was introduced in the House to obtain information. People wanted that information so badly that they subpoenaed witnesses to appear before the committee.
There is no point repeating the ministerial accountability argument and the fact that, according to House tradition, ministers appear in relation to all matters pertaining to decision-making and accountability. However, employees are always left out.
I want to refer back to the minutes of the March 31 meeting. At the very end of that meeting, our colleague Mr. Barrett spoke, and I don't know how long that went on. I unfortunately only have the English version, but here's what he said:
“That being said, while I believe that we need to examine the motion that Monsieur Fortin has put forward, I move that the meeting be adjourned.”