Thanks so much, Mr. Chair.
I just want to say, for those who might be listening at home, that the budget study is always an intensive period after the budget is introduced. There are always a number of hours that are proposed, and it's always very intensive, with additional meetings.
I'd like to reiterate this because I think it's important, and I think Mr. Beech mentioned this earlier: The number of hours that we're proposing to study the budget is equal to the highest number of hours in the last five years. It's important to say that there's no one who is trying to rush this through. Of course there's a lot that we need to study, but this committee has the capacity to do so. We want to ensure that we have an appropriate amount of time and that we do a really good job, and that is the intention of our side of the bench.
I want to thank Mr. Beech for offering that if we move right to a vote, we have the potential to be able to hear from our witnesses today. I know I wanted to hear from the witnesses today, and that was not accepted by some of our opposition members. I do lament that and I hope the witnesses come back.
Mr. Ste-Marie suggested that we move to a vote on the subamendment. I would like to see whether the committee would be willing to do so. I think we've had a sufficient amount of time to discuss the subamendment and I think it's the right time for us to move to a vote.