Mr. Chair, I was wondering if we could entertain an amendment to this one. I have mentioned this before. I believe in the McGrath report's contention that there not be parliamentary secretaries on the committee. However, in the spirit of compromise and understanding, we do have parliamentary secretaries on committee, and some of my colleagues would want to see that remain.
However, as I look at the steering subcommittee, I think it's important, of course, that we have members of all parties. The fact is that you are the chair and we have two vice-chairs, but I think it's reasonable to ask that it not be a position for the parliamentary secretary. Committees are here to perform duties that are separate from the executive at best, but there it is, we have a parliamentary secretary on committee. But at the steering subcommittee, at least, we should have some independence from that. I always welcome Mr. Obhrai's interventions. They are wonderful and they're helpful, but I think it would be better if they were left to committee, not to subcommittee.
Essentially I want to move an amendment to the motion to have the chair, the two vice-chairs, a member from each party--who would already be included by the nature of having a vice-chair and a chair from the Liberal and Conservative parties--and members of the other parties make up the subcommittee, and drop the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the subcommittee.