Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I find it disappointing, because last year we gave the minister grace and didn't call him for estimates because of his travel schedule. He had lots of notice of this request, and lots of flexibility from this committee to get that done before they're reported back to Parliament—which is why they're the primary item that has to go, I think. There's no point in having the minister much after they're reported back to Parliament, so I ask that the minister reconsider and find two hours in his schedule—if it's not on that date, then at least two separate hours—to deal with both issues, as the committee requested.
He has found a lot of time to visit U.S. politicians and be all over the world, but he hasn't had time to come to committee, which personally, I think, is disrespectful to Parliament and the work of this committee. I think he owes it to us to come for two hours, whether it's all at once or split into two separate periods. I request that the committee go back to the minister and say that we prefer for him to come for two one-hour appearances, as we originally requested.