Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd just like to make sure we fully understand the very reasonable motion that Mr. Fergus has put forward. There is a consultation period that has been ongoing since July 18. It's an approximately 75-day consultation period to which Canadians, as individuals or organizations, can submit their views on the consultative paper that was put forward. We don't have a bill in front of us right now that we're examining with regard to the consultative paper and its content.
I think having the minister here to answer some questions from you and from us will be an opportunity for everyone to put their thoughts on the record. That's something I would welcome, and I think that's something the business community and residents I represent would welcome, and I don't see why we wouldn't want to do that. Having three meetings at the outset on this would be something that should be welcomed by all participants.
I hope my Conservative colleagues would welcome that. I think we would welcome that. I'm prepared to sit for an extra nine hours in the mornings next week and then to do the pre-budget consultations in the afternoon. I think that's a moderate suggestion that's reasonable on whichever side of the aisle you're on. I look forward to that and hope we end up doing that with our friends from the ministries here. I hope we can move forward to their testimony and get down to the work we need to do for the pre-budget consultation we are mandated or legislated to do, whichever term you would like to use.
Those are my humble thoughts, and I hope we can move forward with the meetings next week.
Thank you very much.