Thank you, Madam Chair.
As I previously indicated, I wanted to listen to the comments of colleagues from all political parties before moving an amendment to Mr. Cooper's motion. I listened closely to Mr. Cooper as well, and I think he'll find the amendments I'm going to propose reasonable.
To that end, Madam Chair, after listening to all the members across the way and hearing my colleagues on this side, I'll propose an amendment to the motion, which I have just sent to the clerk in both official languages. Let me read it out.
By this amendment, I move first that paragraph (b) be deleted from Mr. Cooper's motion.
I further move to delete paragraphs (g) to (k). We can determine whether to call more witnesses once we've heard those referred to in paragraphs (c), (d), (e) and (f).
I also move that the text of part (l) be amended as follows:
the committee order the production of (i) all relevant briefing notes, memorandums and documents which are in the possession of the relevant government Departments and Agencies, provided that, (ii) the Departments and Agencies tasked with gathering these documents apply redactions according to the Access to Information and Privacy Act, (iii) these redacted documents be deposited as soon as possible with the Clerk of the committee to be distributed to all members of the committee in both official languages.
I think I've captured most of what our colleagues have mentioned around the table. I think there's been some give and take on all of this. I think we will get to what we're trying to get at in an expedited and timely manner, but not such that we will undo our excellent work during the probable three meetings or 10 calendar days that are required for us to finish our work on the other two studies. They have been worked on very assiduously by all members around this table and certainly by our analysts, who have put together an excellent report that we are just at the final stages of considering.
I hope this amendment respects the important will around this table to extend the hearings we currently have and to make sure that we bring forward the right people and leave open the possibility of going even further, depending on what we hear from some of the opening remarks from witnesses. If necessary, we will go further. I hope this will be taken as a good statement.
Madam Chair, I am not the chair, and I am not being presumptuous in suggesting this, but perhaps we could profit from a couple of minutes for members to talk to each other to see if we've found the right way of going forward.