Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, everyone.
It's great to see everyone today and get back to work, as always, during this sitting week before Remembrance Week. Remembrance Day happens next week, and I guess many of us are actually back in our ridings.
I just want to take a little walk down memory lane of where we're at. I was just going over MP Angus' motion that I have, dated October 22, where he put forward a motion. I wish to read it because I want to make sure I'm on the same page here. It reads:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this Committee undertake a study into issues of conflict of interest and the Lobbying Act in relation to pandemic spending; that this study continue our work relating to the Canada Student Service Grant, including this committee’s work to review the safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest in federal government expenditures; government spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant; and the administration of the Canada Student Service Grant and WE Charity; and, that this study include:
At that time, Mr. Angus' motion stated that we should include four components, as follow:
(a) an examination into MCAP and Rob Silver’s involvement with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada...Commercial Rent Assistance program; (b) the consideration of all aspects of the government’s involvement with Baylis Medical Company Inc., as well as former Liberal Member of Parliament Frank Baylis, including the awarding of a procurement contract for medical devices; (c) an examination into Palantir Canada’s relationship with the government including the breach of the Conflict of Interest Act by its president and former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton; [and] (d) an examination of the use of partisan resources and processes in the appointment of federal judges that may have constituted violations of the privacy rights of nominees; and that the Committee, report its findings to the House with recommendations to better permit the Government to conduct the business of government with public confidence in its integrity.
We started off with that motion. Mr. Chair, I will say this. I think the will of the committee is the will when the committee decides to undertake a study on a motion that's proposed. The committee's will will obviously be heard when it reaches that point.
I know there are a number of motions that MPs have put forward, and I think some are very relevant to our constituents and Canadian citizens with respect to privacy rights, the COVID-19 app, facial recognition and how it impacts marginalized communities and so forth. There are just so many things this committee should be doing.
However, right now we're focused on the matters at hand.