Again, I'll just make one more pitch to the Liberals here. I remind you that the Prime Minister is on the record that he would provide these three ministers to consult with the opposition parties. He's on the record in the media stating that, so we would like him to come good and clean on that. The other thing is that the TPP is the basis for a lot of negotiations that could happen with NAFTA. The Minister of Foreign Affairs would not be as privy to that information first-hand as the Minister of International Trade would be; thus we have requested that the Minister of International Trade appear given the Mexico angle. Anything to do with the Pacific Alliance or the TPP would be in the Minister of International Trade's portfolio, which is the reason for him to be here.
I'm not asking him to come here just because it will be a nice day and that he and the Minister of Finance should therefore be in Ottawa. I'm asking because we have serious, legitimate questions that we feel they would be the best people to ask. I talked about the border adjustment tax and excise taxes and the de minimis issue, which are finance related questions. That's why the Minister of Finance should be here to answer those types of questions. I'm not saying that the Minister of Foreign Affairs isn't capable of doing her job. I'm not saying that at all. I think she's been working with us relatively well. I'm just looking for a little bit more leeway to get some questions answered in some of these other areas that would not be her expertise. It is a custom and tradition at this committee that the officials stay that second hour to answer whatever questions that may come from the committee members on all sides on the process and procedures and details that the ministers would not be obviously aware of. I don't think I'm making an unreasonable request. I'm just asking for some goodwill on the other side to do the right thing and bring them all here.