In my view, committee proceedings are useful in the sense that members of this committee will develop recommendations on the way to avoid a recurrence of this kind of situation.
However, when a visit is organized secretly, it is extremely difficult to talk to people. I do not know how the Speaker’s office could have avoided what happened. I had no role to play in the decision to invite anyone whatsoever. We must consider two aspects: the invitation and guest recognition. Personally, I am under the impression that if this person had only been invited, we would not have heard about it. However, the Speaker of the House of Commons rose and called attention to his presence in the gallery, which is quite important.
I have worked at the department for 24 years. Throughout my career, I invited delegations to attend question period, for example. I have also asked for the Speaker of the House to call attention to the presence of another country’s minister of foreign affairs. Sometimes the request is accepted, sometimes it’s rejected. I have to explain why it is important to highlight the presence of that person and note which other people will be present. There is definitely a process to follow.
In the case before us, there was a mistake during the process in question. Perhaps the Speaker’s office should review it based on the committee’s recommendations.