Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I first of all want to get a sense from the committee on where we're heading. This motion that Madam Chow has forwarded is actually a follow-up to a series of questions that I asked of the minister when he appeared in front of committee. Prior to pronouncing my decision on this particular motion, I'm still awaiting the response from the minister. Based on that, I will have the necessary material to basically state whether or not one can endorse this motion.
I say this because I just sense that it's going to be a long conversation this afternoon. I tend to prescribe to a method of operation that speaks to efficiency of a committee rather than grandstanding.
We know that gay rights and gay history were part of initial discussions that took place, and drafts that took place, that were produced, in the process of creating the guide. We all know that. It's been reported. People understand that it's a very unique feature of Canada as it relates to human rights. People understand that same-sex marriage is very much part of our essence as a country as it relates to human rights as well.
We can go around and around, but we all understand what this motion is about.
I would have been a lot happier if I'd received the answers to those questions. There were some interruptions, as you may recall, to the question that related specifically to gay rights and gay history.
Now, I don't know, and I don't think anybody knows here, how many of these copies have been produced.