Yes, Chair, I think everyone in this room absolutely anticipated the expedition of C-3. It's very timely. Frankly, I certainly didn't want to be here over the holidays, but I was prepared to stay until the end of this week in an effort to expedite this bill, because I recognize the significance of this bill for the government.
I must say, I think it's in very poor form for the committee to be informed the day of the appearance of the minister. We had no prior information of this. I don't think it's a good precedent.
The chair talked about working together in a positive and collaborative manner. To have the minister appear without any time for us to prepare for the minister with our questions, considering that we were anticipating perhaps not even the minister but discussing the bill itself later in the week, it's not really how we would like to see things done or to see things done in the future. We certainly would have appreciated some notification as to who and what and when. We didn't receive that here.
That's unfortunate, particularly when we have new members on the committee, and certainly from the NDP an entirely new member who, as I said.... In my almost five years here, I'm still learning the ins and outs of committee business and committee practice, so it's really not preferable. I really don't think it's in good form. It doesn't feel very good, as we are in the holiday season here.
I just felt I should voice all of that, Chair. Thank you very much.