Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To respond to Mr. Beech, this is not about obstructing. This is about doing the job we're called to do as parliamentarians, to exercise oversight over many billions of dollars of spending and many billions of dollars in taxation that is being imposed on Canadians.
I want to add a few thoughts on both the subamendment and the amendment itself.
A number of colleagues have referred to an “expedited timeline”. The whole purpose for us having the space to be able to conduct our work here at committee is to make sure we get it right. There are many things here before us in the BIA that call for more probing. These are things like the way charities are being treated and the direction and control element that is now being discussed both in the House and here at this committee.
Unfortunately, we had witnesses available here today. Our Liberal friends, supported by our NDP coalition, decided they weren't going to hear from them and would carry on with their amendments and subamendments. Quite frankly, Mr. Chair, I think it sends a terrible message to those who rely on this committee and this Parliament to do its work properly. Inconveniencing witnesses the way we just did is highly inappropriate, and they have the right to complain.
That said, I did want to note also that notwithstanding complaints that somehow the process is being slowed down, the reality is that not only did we as a Conservative opposition agree with all of the other members at this committee to conduct a prestudy to expedite the process and get the budget implementation act moving forward, we supported that process. Not only has that happened, but the Senate itself is conducting a prestudy of the budget implementation act. In both Houses of Parliament, we have an avenue whereby all the parties have co-operated to move this legislation through in an expedited manner, yet can we get even an ounce of co-operation from the parliamentary secretary and his handlers? No, we cannot, which is really sad.
There's only so much compression of timelines that should take place before you start undermining our ability to do our job properly.
I mentioned the charitable sector. How about the wine industry that is crying foul against this government?