One of the fundamental principles of the House of Commons and its committees is the concept of representation by population. The fact is that the Liberals and the Conservatives on this committee, not including the chair, comprise eight out of the 11 members, or about 75% of the committee membership.
The way it was structured before gave us much less of a voice and a say on this committee in terms of interviewing the witnesses. So I think it's reasonable to go with what my colleagues Mike Lake and John McKay have proposed on the order.
Even in the proposed order we will be getting far less than our proportional membership on the committee would dictate. If we go with John McKay's suggestion, we'll be getting approximately 67% of the questioning in the first round. That's far less than our representation on the committee. To suggest that we should go in an order where we each get equal time is patently unfair.
With all due respect, I understand why my colleagues from the New Democratic Party or the Bloc might want equal time as us, but it's not fair. The fact is that we represent over 400,000 Canadians on this side of the table. The Liberals represent over 400,000 Canadians, and those Canadians have a right to have their elected representatives have a say in the interviewing of witnesses. To suggest that one member of this committee from one party should have equal say with four members of this committee from the government or four members from the opposition is not the way the House of Commons is supposed to operate.
We're coming forward with a change, but it's a reasonable change and it still underrepresents our representation on this committee with respect to the interviewing of witnesses.
I think we should proceed with the vote. If there is more discussion, let it happen, but I think we should proceed with either Mike Lake's proposal or John McKay's proposal.