Good morning, everyone. It's my first time addressing the committee.
I must say I'm a little confused by the motion. You refer to there having been no public consultations done. The summertime was spent hearing from the public. I attended a consultation in Charlottetown, P.E.I. We had Dairy Farmers of P.E.I. attend and present. We had Atlantic Beef Products, the P.E.I. Aquaculture Alliance, the P.E.I. BioAlliance, the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association and the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association. We also had the poverty elimination council present to us, as well as members of the business community.
We have done a fair lot of consultation over the summer months, since the House rose in June. I was hopeful that we would come here and start hearing witnesses presenting the submissions that we received over the summer in our binders to the finance committee. I'm disappointed that we're not at that point yet. I hope we get to that point soon.
In regard to the motion and the minister coming on the 24th, I think they've all stated what they feel about that. It's just too quick a turnaround. The minister is willing to come. He presents the budget on November 4. He'll speak to our committee, either prior to that or shortly thereafter, as we do the review of the budget bill. Otherwise, there is other business that the committee could be hearing witnesses on, and that's Bill C-4, the making life more affordable for Canadians act. I hope that the committee will consider getting down to business and getting moving on what the Canadian people expect us to be doing here on this finance committee.
Thank you.