As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to take a few minutes to look at future business. The reason I want to do this--and we'd have to do it pretty much unanimously--is that most committees take about three weeks to get up and running. That's always been a frustration. I think we can get up and running as soon as Thursday, or maybe next Tuesday, depending on what we think we might like to do, because there are some nationally important economic issues related to the current economic recession.
The supplementary estimates (B) have also been referred to the committee. They have been introduced in the House, and I'm advised that at some point the government and the opposition parties will want to sink their teeth into those in the House. These are estimates that would have been introduced in the House at the end of last year but were not because of the election and prorogation. So they're a little behind schedule, and there will be some quarters in government that would want to see that move ahead quickly.
I had hoped members would take an interest in the issue of stimulus spending, with reference to both the supplementary estimates and the budget as it was read in the House last week. I'm certainly in your hands. We're speaking of immediate future business and whether we can get something nailed down for Thursday.
I should point out that I've asked the clerk if he would ask Statistics Canada about the possibility of inputs for this week--including those from the Privy Council--on the issue of stimulus spending. These issues are in your hands. If we choose to go ahead, those institutions will at least have some notice.
Madame Bourgeois.