Thank you, Chair. I'll speak to Ms. Dzerowicz's subamendment.
I think what Ms. Dzerowicz has proposed is very thoughtful. Basically, she is incorporating part of what Mr. Poilievre proposed, which is basically eliminating the deadline for clause-by-clause study, but is still trying to make sure that we get to clause-by-clause consideration in a reasonable period of time, in an expeditious period of time. I think that gives us the flexibility as a committee to address something Mr. Poilievre raised, which is the importance of not having to rush to clause-by-clause consideration and of ensuring that we as MPs do our work as quickly as possible to prepare for that clause-by-clause study.
I think that's a reasonable ask of all of us here. It gives us enough time. It allows us to hear from the minister. It allows us to hear from other witnesses.
On that note, I would like to mention that I completely agree with Mr. Ste‑Marie on the number of witnesses. What he said is very reasonable.
However, it's important that we strike a balance in our work. It would not be reasonable for the committee to decide to work at the speed that we normally work when we are not in a pandemic. I cannot go back to Etobicoke Centre and tell my constituents that the process will take a number of weeks or months and that there will be no help for them during that time. That is not reasonable.
At the same time, I understand the arguments of my colleagues who say that they need to look at the bill and hear the views of the ministers and the witnesses affected by it. Ms. Dzerowicz's proposal is a compromise that considers what Mr. Poilievre and his colleagues have said.
Furthermore, in response to Mr. Blaikie, let me clarify one thing. I did not say that it is not important to consider what the ministers and witnesses have to say. It's just that, in the process of preparing amendments, we often start with drafts and then, after hearing from witnesses and ministers, we make small changes. I just wanted to say that there is time in the schedule to do that. The change that Ms. Dzerowicz is proposing would give us even more time. I don't want to speak for her, but I think she is taking into account what Mr. Ste‑Marie and Mr. Poilievre have said about the importance of having time to prepare amendments while working on behalf of our constituents who need that help.