Thank you, Chair.
Chair, I'm a little concerned that the finance committee is setting a deadline for us on an immigration matter, and part of that problem is that the government introduced an important immigration change in a finance bill. I understand that the committee is working under certain constrictions and wants to get on with its work related to finance, but I don't think that should throw us off trying to do due diligence on an important immigration issue that has certainly raised very, very serious concerns all across the country with many, many people.
So I have real difficulty with sticking to their deadline of Friday, May 9, just as others have said they want to do a good a job at any work done on this, given its importance. If we are going to consider this request—and everybody wants to study it, so I don't think that's in doubt—the timeline is a problem, and I think we need to extend it so that we can hear from the appropriate people.
I also think that given the concern that exists across the country on this—and I know the committee is just back from travelling—it would be important to hear from people in various cities across Canada. This is a major change—