Thank you, Madam Chair.
I just want to add a few things to some of your comments that have already been said, Mr. Minister. Thank you for being here, by the way.
Canadian humanitarian agencies have been calling for that legislation for quite some time. I'm deeply troubled that it took your government this long to introduce Bill C-41.
There are millions of Afghans who are in desperate need of food and other supplies, critical supplies. Time is still of the essence. You must have known of the dire straits that Afghan women and children are currently in. This has been asked before, but in light of the fact that, as you say, the minister is going to be here shortly—we're not aware he's going to be here before at least the end of April—I'm going to ask you again.
What's your excuse for taking so long to table a relatively straightforward piece of legislation? Don't you talk to the ministers?