Again, with due respect, it is all relevant, Mr. Chair, when we are debating a subamendment that, if accepted, would allow this committee to meaningfully approach its various responsibilities.
Number one, we would finally have a path forward that would allow for pre-budget consultations to begin. On top of that, we would deal with the issues that our opposition friends have raised here today. They wish to discuss this issue of redaction—fair enough—but we cannot do that unless we discuss it with those who were involved, those being the public servants and the law clerk. Let's have them at committee. Let's have that meaningful discussion. Why we would hold that back is only for the opposition, namely the Conservatives, to answer, and they have not done it. Instead they want to continue to focus on political points and partisanship, issues that everyday Canadians on Main Street don't care at all about. They care about ideas that will lead to genuine policy outcomes, as we've seen.
As I made clear in my earlier remarks today, this committee has the ability to do that, the ability to suggest policy proposals to the government, namely the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, that would continue to contribute to this country. CEBA, the payroll subsidy, and matters of rent could all be looked at in a very serious way.
Mr. Chair, I think we ought to move forward, agree to the subamendment of Mr. Gerretsen, and then begin planning what Ms. Dzerowicz and Mr. Ste-Marie have both called for, and I believe Mr. Julian too at some point—I don't want to leave him out of this—which is a pre-budget consultation. It's been a pleasure to serve on this committee for the last several years, and the best part of the role is sitting through pre-budget consultations. It's a very serious enterprise, one that I take incredibly seriously.
I've raised various philosophers and philosophical theories here today about what the state should be. Ultimately, the state should look after its citizens, whether you put the working class at the centre, as the NDP does, whether you put business at the centre, as the Conservatives do, or whether, as the Liberals do as a party of moderation, you put the needs of the working class, the poor and business in the middle. Again, it's a party of moderation, and we can find ways to work together.
All of what we've heard here today from the opposition stands in the way of that. What the Conservatives continue to do here is not in the spirit of collaboration. I would call on them to stop being obstructionist, to accept the subamendment of Mr. Gerretsen, and to get on with the business of this committee—namely, the recognition of Standing Order 83.1. Let's do what's right, agree with Mr. Gerretsen on what he has put forward, and then, as I said, start planning the real work.