Chair, I think Mr. Garneau may have some comments, but I think we have not been able to find reasonable grounds.
I want to stress something, Chair. I've been here almost as long as, and perhaps longer than, Mr. Bélanger. I know that we have had sessions during the summer; I can only say with absolute candour and clarity that I have never seen a number of people willing to come before Parliament and come before this committee to testify. The sooner we do this, the better.
I want to also signal to you, Chair, that I take it you will not be available next week. We have a caucus the following week. We are now coming dangerously close to backing up on issues that we have to deal with, that we were dealing with in June, for which Mr. Lake, as parliamentary secretary, and I believe you, Chair, pointed out very adequately and appropriately: we're not going to be able to pass even some of the minimal bills brought by private members and the government bills that have been brought before this committee.
The decision to go with changing the long-form census was one conducted by the government in the dead of summer. That it has had such a reaction is entirely the responsibility of the government. We are doing our job as parliamentarians, and not from a partisan point of view, to recognize very much the angst that exists out there. The sooner that is dealt with, we'll be able to get on with other business, Mr. Chair.