Thank you, Madam Chair. I won't take too much time.
I originally brought this motion to the committee, so I have a real concern with making sure it is followed through appropriately.
I want you to know, Madam Chair, that I did speak to Dr. Beaudet and indicated to him that I would have no trouble with his appearance here today. I thought it was only appropriate. However, I certainly didn't assume it would mean no other witnesses would be permitted, so I want to do a couple of things right now.
First I want to table my letter to you, Madam Chairperson, as of this past Friday, indicating my concern for the refusal on your part to entertain any other witnesses who were willing and able to come. They include Dr. Patricia Baird, Dr. Noralou Roos, Dr. Joel Lexchin, Dr. Abby Lippman, Dr. Steve Morgan, and Dr. Trudo Lemmens.
In the letter I'm tabling, Madam Chair, I indicated that I certainly didn't expect all of these witnesses to come. I knew we were limited in time. I suggested that one voice bringing an alternative perspective to this debate would have been very useful. I'm disappointed that you disregarded the recommendation and did not bring it to either the steering committee or this committee as a whole before you made that decision. I will table the letter and seek the advice of other committee members as to appropriate action.
Let me also table a petition of some 2,085 names of concerned citizens around the appointment of Dr. Prigent to CIHR.
Finally, let me reference the considerable correspondence that we've all received from numerous scientists, researchers, and health care specialists around the country. If it is appropriate, I would be happy to table all of those as well.
I don't want to take up the time of the committee. We have two courses of action. One is to schedule another meeting to hear from other witnesses, which would be my preference. However, it would have to be done, and a report sent back to Parliament, before December 9. It would mean we would have to make this decision rather quickly and have it happen by no later than next week.
The other option for us would be to just swallow what has happened, to grin and bear it, and to bring a motion later on for how we as a committee will deal with this kind of situation in the future. I'm certainly prepared to do that.