I want to clarify something. I wanted to ensure we understood the point that we have on this side. The consultation we're speaking of—the lack of consultation—is not due to the people who are at the table right now. It is the fact that....
I challenge this premise that somehow when we were consulting on the budget, this was people coming out to talk about the changes in how DFAIT was going to be put together. I'm sorry, that doesn't wash. Further to that point is that this is exactly why we're critiquing this process.
Mr. Patel is doing a good job of being a good public servant in saying that we will be able to consult after. The fact of the matter is that this committee can't deal with that bill. It's over in finance.
So I underline this point to our friends on the government side. If you're going to do this seriously and look at other jurisdictions, do it seriously. But throwing it into a budget bill, the very point that was made by our witnesses.... We can't deal with it here. Even when our friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said they'd love to cooperate.... The fact is that our hands are tied. It's over there with finance. So I really underline the point that consultation was not done appropriately—nothing to do with the people at this table.
Finally, the fact that it was put into this omnibus bill undermines the credibility of a good idea because you have not consulted. You failed to consult. You're not doing it in the right sequence. I say that with respect to the government.