Thank you, Chair.
I can't wrap my head around this notion that somehow the ministers are too busy to appear at a parliamentary committee after having months of notice. Their entire existence is predicated on Parliament's holding them to account for their spending, for their actions.
It's actually their number one job to come to this committee. I think Ms. Kwan's motion makes so much sense, because when you think about the severity of the bungling on Canada's Afghan response, to have the Minister of Global Affairs or the Minister of Defence say, I'm sorry, I'm a little busy to be held to account while there are countless people who have been failed by our response to this.... I just really hope colleagues understand that again, even though you might have a political stripe that you are attached to, our job here is to hold the government to account. We have to be parliamentarians first.
I say to my colleagues who are part of the governing party—you guys—that it is completely unacceptable for a minister to not show up to this committee and not make an effort to attend. In fact, I would argue there are many Liberals in this room who could be cabinet ministers and who would probably avail themselves of such an opportunity. To hide from this committee, to not make themselves available.... Yes, of course Ms. Kwan's motion makes sense. We should be seeking remedy for that. We should be holding them to account for their recalcitrance and bad behaviour. It's not for us; it's on behalf of the people we're trying to serve with immigration policy through Afghanistan.
I just find it completely unconscionable that we have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, just completely reluctant to come to this committee.
Who is the Minister of Defence?
It's Anita Anand. Right.
What's to hide? If it's such a great response, come on over. Let's talk about it. The reality is they need to be here. There's nothing more important than this committee. If they do not come, I believe we should summon them.
Thank you.