Thank you, Madam Chair.
I was just going to refer the chair to page 827 of Marleau and Montpetit in relation to the role of the chair, specifically what the role of the chair is:
The Chair of a committee is responsible for recognizing members and witnesses who seek the floor and ensuring that any rules established by the committee concerning the apportioning of speaking time are respected. Furthermore, the Chair is also responsible for maintaining order in committee proceedings. However, the Chair does not have the power to censure disorder or decide questions of privilege; this can only be done by the House upon receiving a report from the committee.
I have looked at the role of the chair, the role of vice-chairs, acting chairs, elections, etc., and nowhere do I see that specifically the chair can ask questions directly of the witnesses.
I am a little curious about that, because I have seen it many times, and I was wondering.... You have the clerk next to you, and certainly it seems as though it would be an appropriate situation, but it does not refer to it in Marleau and Montpetit. I was wondering whether that could be clarified.