On the matter of this amendment, amendment 23, we've passed more amendments at this meeting today than I think at any prior meeting. I stand to be corrected, but I think we have. We take every amendment seriously; we've been going through them during this process. I think this amendment is worthy of consideration just on the merits of the individual amendment.
We weren't able to submit new amendments at the time. As you will remember, Madam Chair, the opposite side voted down my proposal to have amendments brought in by May 15. We're simply trying to get through each of our ideas and to see that they are given the exact same time all other amendments are given.
I think this is a worthy one to do. Citizenship ceremonies are planned all the time throughout the year by the department. We can legislate—we're legislators and that's exactly what we're supposed to be doing at this table—and give direction to the department that they shall not do certain things in a certain way or that they shall do certain things in a different way. That is the whole point of legislation. This is very simple. It's just directing them not to schedule citizenship ceremonies on a very specific day of significance to Sikhism. That's really all we're asking them to do. We have not been prolonging debate on any of the prior amendments today, bringing them to a vote expeditiously and making the points we need to make on behalf of our constituents and supporters throughout the country who do believe this is important.
I think amendment 23, along with other amendments we may have to bring forward.... I'll note that there has been plenty of extra time allocated for the consideration of clause-by-clause by you, Madam Chair, and there hasn't been time given for international students. There are issues that are very urgent—