Thank you, Madam Chair.
I was listening to Ms. Kwan's issue about PGP—parents and grandparents—and first of all, I think that under the circumstances we have to give the minister credit. He and his department have worked very hard to deal with the situation, and he has said that the department will process 50,000 applications by the end of December, which is a very good move. Also, even though this lottery system didn't work—I will agree with Ms. Kwan—under the circumstances, I think this is at least the best decision: to accept at least 10,000 applications. This way, he now has also given us a window, from October 13 all the way to November 3. With this, we will have a complete list of how many applicants are out there and have expressed interest. From there, minus 10,000, we will be able to see how much volume is out there. We as committee members can then come up with suggestions to the minister as well on how the new system should look, so that when we accept those other 30,000 applications, those procedures are incorporated. I would delay that meeting almost to the end, after November 3, so that we have those numbers handy.
I agree that we should have more meetings. I would like to bring another amendment, if we see a consensus.
It is:
That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “that this study begin no later than October 27, 2020; that this study be held over a minimum of two and a maximum of four meetings”, with the words, “that this study begin no later than October 27, 2020, and that the committee hold no more than eight meetings to hear from witnesses”.
I think that will satisfy Ms. Kwan's seven meetings and Ms. Martinez Ferrada's proposal as well, and it will also include those two to four meetings. Let me see if there is a consensus for this proposal.