We also believe in maximum accountability and transparency when it comes to the exercise of ministerial powers. It doesn't really matter which political party is in power. We're talking about ministerial powers and it is not directed against one individual or one minister.
To that end, we are proposing an amendment to create a reporting mechanism to ensure greater oversight by parliamentarians, like ourselves. Specifically, the intent of this amendment is to promote transparency and accountability in the minister's exercise of the prescribed ministerial power by requiring that the minister include statistics on it in the annual report to Parliament on immigration, including information on: one, the total number of declarations made; two, the period of time for which the declarations were made; three, the number of declarations that were revoked or shortened; and four, the reasons the declarations were made.
Again, we think this is a reasonable amendment—so far we have failed to convince the other side—and hope that the committee members will vote in favour of greater transparency and accountability. After all, that is what we all want.