When we started this discussion, I put forward a motion. It was the Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois who expanded it to include indigenous knowledge holders and enforcement and the RCMP. We took something that was focused and expanded it, because you needed to see this.
However, I object to the notion that we need to hear from the minister or the fisheries department. What we are talking about in essence is law, Mi'kmaq law. The witnesses we have today are excellent. They have been relied on in court testimony and they're amazing.
The Conservatives said that we're fishing in the dark. Well, the witnesses we have called are giving you a spotlight.
Can we do this discussion during committee business and allow the valuable testimony we're going to hear to move forward, before we talk about when we bring the minister forward? As far as I know, there is a notion to bring her here before November 30, but I would like to get to the witnesses and the expanded group of witnesses who were asked for by both the Conservatives and the Bloc when this motion came forward initially. I would like to do so in a time that gives our committee members a chance to hear from these expert witnesses.