Madam Chair, I would just like to let the members of the committee know that in the past we've encouraged witnesses to provide their opening statements ahead of time so that they can be distributed. Frequently, issues arose over having opening statements translated in enough time to be able to distribute them to the committee. Part of it is in relation to the invitation to witnesses. Frequently, invitations to witnesses are proffered in a very short timeline, sometimes even less than 72 hours, so certain kinds of deadlines for the submission of opening statements are not always possible.
There can be language in the routine motions that perhaps suggests best efforts, but we have had those issues in the past and then what has happened is that the witness has not been able to provide their opening statement to the committee.