I would respond to my colleague across the way, my friend Mr. Savage, that in fact it is different because it's actually somebody supporting their own kind of position, bringing it forward in a collaborative way.
I say this as gently as I can to Mr. Lessard, because I know he really works hard on this committee and he means the best, I'm sure, but there wasn't even the collaborative effort before question period or at any point.... We have it slapped on our desks as the meeting is about to start. We've already agreed on a plan of action. I don't know if there was any foresight, but did you just find out a minute before the meeting began? I think not. There could have even been the conciliatory attempt to bring it to people before Question Period, at some point in the morning or afternoon, if that was the time when you found that out.
I want to say, in as gentle a fashion as possible, that I haven't seen this happen before. It's not to say you can't ever do it if it's never been done before, but I just don't see it as forwarding our agenda. We came to a fairly lengthy discussion last time and agreed to do this.
To the chair, I would simply ask you to call the question so we can get on with the agreed plan that we had deliberated at length on at the last meeting, when you weren't here, Mr. Chair, so we can proceed to hear our witnesses and get on with the clause-by-clause.