Thank you, Mr. Chair, and again, congratulations.
I think I have a decent record here of trying to be collegial and getting things done in compromise. Let me lay it out in terms of the subamendment and the amendment, because we can have either a long meeting or a quick one.
The subamendment won't fly for me in terms of one meeting instead of two because of a couple of things. It won't even allow all members to participate in that meeting. For me, with all we've invested in it, it's a no go. If the Bloc and Mr. Villemure agree with that, then that's done and over with, because the Conservatives probably won't agree to reduce their amount of time.
That brings us to the main motion. The main motion as amended by Mr. Villemure is to have the meetings when we return to the House of Commons in September, which I don't think the Conservatives want, but at the same time is a moot point if we don't change our position, the Bloc doesn't change their position and the Liberals don't. That means we can actually get this meeting done quickly, if we want, in terms of getting two meetings done with two hours for the witnesses, and it would be at the beginning of the session.
I have a point with regard to that. Often we waste those first two meetings in that week on planning. We would then get that out of the way, so it is an advancement in time and effort. As well, we don't absorb House of Commons resources for maybe a week or two weeks in advance of Parliament coming back, taking people off of vacations and taking people away from their families. It also ensures that the House doesn't have to have encumbrance prices with regard to reinstating the committee.
I would appeal to the members here today that if they do actually want to get things wrapped up and get going on this very important matter.... I won't speak to the substance here or the motivations, but the reality of the math is that the Liberal amendment is a no go if we hold to the position right now and later on, the Conservatives would then have to put a little water in their wine, so to speak, by making sure that the committee does have to have the meetings and that they get to have the time they want. I think it's a good motion, but it won't happen until we get back, which is an advancement in time, because normally that time would be wasted as we start to plan.