In respect of time, I can discuss that. What we've put forward in this motion is six hours. I guess what we're arguing for, in the context of Mr. Lemire's amendment, is whether we're going to study this for four or six hours.
In respect to relevancy, it is this committee, whether we decide to or not, that determines ultimately, through the estimates process, whether SDTC and Industry Canada can actually fund this organization, although through, I would say, multiple governments of all political stripes the powers that committees hold to approve or disapprove of parliamentary spending have not been used to their full benefit and in the way that I believe taxpayers would want us to use them.
I remember fondly, in 2015, that the Prime Minister mentioned repeatedly that committees would be independent of the government, and he made a promise that parliamentary secretaries would not be sitting at committee tables, because he wanted to have them at arm's length from the government. Obviously, that is not the case at all.
I agree with Mr. Turnbull that there is some work being done already in respect to this motion, but it is this committee that has the responsibility, under the Standing Orders, to review and approve of how money to SDTC is being spent. The fall economic statement is coming at a time that's very.... It could come any day. We don't know. The budget will be coming in the next few months. I think it is imperative that this committee, with its responsibilities under the rules of Parliament that dictate that we approve or disapprove where money from Industry Canada goes, give this its due attention and look at whether or not this organization should receive any additional funds.
Obviously, the government has taken it so seriously that they have said that they're putting a freeze on it. That's a pretty drastic action. That's not something the Minister of Industry or anyone in government ever does, especially with this government, which has spent more money than any government in the history of Canada. Their shutting off funding for a primary conduit to fund start-ups in the clean-tech industry is a massive indictment in and of itself that there is something extremely wrong with what is taking place at this organization, this not-for-profit funded by the Government of Canada.
My point is this. It is the responsibility of this committee, under the Standing Orders and the organization of Parliament, to undertake its due diligence to determine how money is spent in Parliament and which organizations are allocated money. It is imperative that this work take place prior to the estimates coming before this committee when the new fiscal year starts.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.