Thanks, Chair.
It's too bad that while we're in the study of an important piece of legislation, Bill C-30, we're using up committee time with valuable witness testimony hanging in the balance. I feel sorry for our witnesses who have to sit through this.
I recognize that it's the prerogative of committee members to move motions, but I just want to say that within the study we agreed to, which was actually dictated by the Conservatives in a programming motion that we said was fair and reasonable, we agreed to a committee schedule, and it didn't include these interruptions of motions.
I'll just say that in 17 minutes from now, the Minister of Finance is appearing at this committee. We know the House is scheduled to rise on June 19. If committee members have a burning desire to ask the Minister of Finance questions about the state of the Canadian economy, they are going to have that opportunity just 17 minutes from now.
I think that's more than fair. I'm sure that in future studies on future bills.... I think we've just heard another motion put on notice that will also request the Minister of Finance to appear before this committee. The Minister of Finance is more than happy to come to the committee, but I think the motion is somewhat unreasonable, given the circumstances we face.
I could go on at length in defending the record of the government, but I'm not going to do that because I want to get back to our witnesses today.