I like your explanation, Blake, but my initial reaction, even after the explanation, still leans more toward our not doing this because the consultations are over. Our report is done. When all the parties were asked whether they wanted to call more witnesses to this committee, there was very little interest on the part of the Conservatives in calling more witnesses. Our committee's work is our work. In fact, if we wanted to hear testimony from average Canadians or whoever, we had the ability to do so, and we didn't.
Right now we're we're at the stage of finalizing the report, changing a few things around. We might even potentially be done today. That is my hope, but it could take a little longer.
When we set down this task, we were given the option of bringing in whoever we wanted. We chose. We made those decisions. We're at the end of the report. We should complete it and present it to the minister. The role of the committee is to advise the minister, not to call in everyone she may be getting advice from.
I don't even see the purpose of this. It seems like it's delaying getting our report to the minister.