I would rule that Mr. Komarnicki, of course, has a valid point of order because the chair has no authority to direct witnesses to answer questions that are outside of the scope of the examination of their qualifications and competence to perform their duties. Again, this is all the chair can do. I can easily say to the witnesses, if you feel like answering these questions that seem to be outside the qualifications and competence to perform your duties, well, feel free to do so, but you may not if you don't feel like doing it either. Again, I would say that questioning by members of the committee may be interrupted by the chair if it attempts to deal with matters considered irrelevant to the committee's inquiries. These are not my words. These are the Standing Orders, and the chairs are ruled by the Standing Orders, and this is all they can do.
I want to be as flexible as I possibly can, and I don't want to tie the committee's hands in dealing with the witnesses, but we do have a means at our disposal to get the information that the honourable members of the committee wish to get by calling other witnesses.
So we'll proceed, and I'll allow witnesses to feel free to answer these questions, or if they want to remain within the strict limits of the order in council and Standing Orders, they may do so.
I'll continue again, Mr. Alghabra.