Thanks very much, Chair.
I would note that I think an issue of this gravity...and I know we'll be addressing a number of important issues prior to Christmas. As I discussed in another committee meeting yesterday, we can do multiple important things as time requires.
Having a young family, I would note specifically the need to balance time in that regard, but I think it's quite valid if we meet during break weeks, which is something I hear often from constituents. They don't have an issue with our working, including, quite often, travelling back and forth. I'm a western MP, so it's not always easy, especially when I have to deal with Pearson airport, to get here. Constituents expect us to do the good work.
There's this unique opportunity. To speak to the change in the number of meetings, it makes perfect sense, because if we were to meet over the course of break week, resources would not be as big an issue. We could have possibly longer meetings—they could be three-hour meetings—that could be scheduled in a way to maximize the efficiency of travel. We could ensure that we are dealing with this important issue in the manner that...especially for our public servants who could be affected by this.
I think there is the fact that we have a lot of unanswered questions. I won't speak beyond that. I'll reserve a few comments for the larger debate on the motion. I think I'm on that speaking list.
I think it makes perfect sense. I know public servants will be working during the weeks in January when we're back in our constituencies. Being able to plan around that is entirely reasonable. Canadians expect us to be doing this good work. While public servants are at work during those weeks in January, I think it would be entirely reasonable for us to get answers on their behalf and to stand up for those people who may have had their privacy breached.
I won't get into the substance of why this is important, but I think our not moving expeditiously is not serving well those who work diligently to provide the services that we, as parliamentarians, all depend on and, greater than that, that Canadians depend on. The fact that those unanswered questions remain is deeply problematic.
We could have a couple fewer meetings and they could be longer in duration. We could get this done efficiently and ensure that we do the work that is required to get the answers that Canadians—and, in this case, those people who work for these 13 departments—deserve.
Thanks.