Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think that unless there are politics at play here, three days' or two days' notice for a meeting is quite unreasonable, especially at this time of year. I personally have no problem being here. Although I do have events in the riding already scheduled for Thursday and Friday, as I do most days through the summer, I would likely be able to be here. However, I don't think it's fair time for witnesses on all sides of the issue to be properly contacted and be available to come.
A couple of weeks is probably not going to make a significant difference in the outcome of this issue. We know that many members of the committee would be available a week from this coming Monday, during the week of August 30, I believe, or also the week after Labour Day, starting on September 6 or 7.
It's not an unreasonable period of time to schedule meetings at this time of year. I think with some compromise here, we can have the hearings we all want to have, and have them held in a fashion that properly represents both sides of this issue.