I would like to move what I hope would be a friendly amendment: that we add at the end of the sentence Mr. Lake has proposed “and a member of the official opposition”. I'll speak to that now, Mr. Chair.
The reality is that the tradition in all committees is that the subcommittees tend to work on consensus basis. That's just the way to approach these kinds of issues. Certainly there's no problem with adding a member or two, as long as it's balanced. That's what we're proposing--a balanced approach that allows for that consensus at the subcommittee level and frees up committee time. In no committee I have been part of--and I've been on the transport, international trade, and social development committees--has there been partisanship at the subcommittee level. The agenda is set up, and it's in the interest of the committee itself, but particularly here with industry.
This committee has a tradition of non-partisanship that makes it one of the most respected committees in the House of Commons. That has been the tradition of the industry committee. It has that representation right across the country. So this is a different kettle of fish from most other committees, in which sometimes, as you know, Mr. Chair, there's partisan wrangling. It doesn't happen here, and I think as we start fresh it would make a lot of sense to have that kind of consensus and continue that tradition.