Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I also want to congratulate you, but you'll understand that I'm not doing so on behalf of the Queen.
Although the Bloc Québécois agrees with the spirit of the motion, I will try to make a comment by removing the few preconceptions it contains. The Ethics Commissioner found that Ms. Verschuren had committed offences by not recusing herself on a few occasions. I read the report, but I didn't see a direct accusation of a conflict of interest. At best, we know that she didn't recuse herself.
We have known since November 2023 that this situation is a problem, and I think it's important that we look into it. However, is it urgent? That's debatable. I'd therefore like to move an amendment to the motion right away, which will be sent to you in both official languages. It reads:
Given the Ethics Commissioner's Verschuren report, finds that the former chair of Sustainable Development Technology Canada broke the Conflict of Interest Act; that the committee hold two meetings, and calls the following witnesses: the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, to appear for two hours; and the former chair of Sustainable Development Technology Canada and current chair of MaRS, Annette Verschuren, to appear for two hours; and that it is understood that the meetings on this matter will be held in priority to all other committee studies and that the committee will dedicate its first two meetings after Parliament resumes in September 2024 to hearing these witnesses.