Mr. Chair, I would just like to clarify the reason why we want to withdraw the amendment, to make sure everyone is clear on that.
We want to withdraw the amendment so we can then amend Mr. Barrett's motion. Right now the motion requires that “the committee undertake a study on conflicts of interest relating to taxpayer-funded contracts with Data Sciences Inc; and that the committee do invite Mr. Tom Pitfield to appear”. We want to replace all this wording with other wording that would require the committee to examine how each of the recognized political parties in the House of Commons uses databases in its MP's offices on Parliament Hill and in their ridings, as well as within the party itself. The new wording would also require that the committee invite representatives of each party's research offices to “appear and testify before the committee”. We would keep all the rest of the wording in Mr. Barrett's motion but add that this study would be limited to one committee meeting.
That is then the overall idea. I know that all my colleagues from other parties are consulting or have already consulted their colleagues to see whether they will be supporting this proposal.
Mr. Chair, I think that we have a great opportunity here, if we can reach consensus. We could move on to this proposal right away and, as my colleague, Ms. Gaudreau, said, we could be done by 3 p.m.