My apologies. Pardon me.
First of all, what I just said is that the Liberals are claiming they want to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, but they haven't put forward a single motion to that effect. What they are actually suggesting is that the committee do nothing for the rest of the summer. The assertion that they want the Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic is merely an excuse to avoid being held to account for the scandal involving We Charity.
Second of all, as parliamentarians, we gave the government sweeping spending power, which is almost unprecedented, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is that very power that the Liberals used to grant a contribution agreement valued at more than $500 million to an organization that paid the Prime Minister's family and footed the bill for the Minister of Finance to take a vacation. It is therefore up to us, as parliamentarians, to answer for the government's spending under the power granted by Parliament in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Third, and finally, the committee members seem to take issue with the word “exhausted”. I would remind the committee that, as soon as the majority decides there is no longer any reason to discuss the matter or continue the study, that majority can vote to put an end to it, as always. Consequently, should the time come when the witnesses no longer have anything relevant to say, the committee can simply choose to conclude the study. My motion doesn't prevent that in the slightest. It simply gives committee members an opportunity to submit their witnesses and to hear from everyone, nothing more.
Thank you.