Mr. Chair, one must understand how this committee operates in order to understand the motion that has just been tabled. It is very rare that we hear from a single witness. If we adopt your proposal, then whenever we hear from two or three witnesses who each make 15-minute presentations, the NDP will never be able to ask questions because we usually hear from more than one witness. It is obvious. Sometimes we summon two, three or even more witnesses. During a two-hour meeting, we do not have a lot of time to ask questions. For example, if we hear from three witnesses, that will take up 45 minutes. Therefore, how much time will be left for opposition parties and the government to ask questions? We might as well say that the NDP will never have the floor during the second round. Over the years, that is what we have observed and that explains the solution we have gone with. This issue has come up each time the committee has been struck over the last five years. We have dealt with this issue for the last five years, and five years' experience has shown us that the last solution is the best one.
On May 9th, 2006. See this statement in context.