The reason for that, Mr. Chair, is that there is a concern that this deal might possibly be signed while we're debating this issue here in committee. This allows us to go on record—and allows you to present it in the House—that the committee is examining this trade agreement and we are consulting the stakeholders and taking into consideration what they have to say, and that we don't want any deal signed until the final report is submitted.
This allows us a safety net in case a deal is signed. That is the intention behind it: to call to the House, if a deal is signed, saying: look, we put it on record that we are debating this issue in committee and that we want to present a report. So we put the government on notice and we let the minister know that any deal that is struck while we're trying to study it would be a compromise of the process—in committee at least. That's the intent.