Mr. Chair, I think there are a few things here that are extremely important to highlight.
First of all, as the chair mentioned, the way that witnesses are generally agreed upon by the various members of a committee and the timetable for studies are all done in camera. We also have the added element of the sub judice rule, which may possibly, as the motion alludes to, require us to obtain a legal opinion. There are real issues at play here with regard to a matter dealing with SNC-Lavalin that is currently before the court. We have to be very sure that we are not improperly encroaching on an area that is properly under litigation in the courts. We have to make sure that we are doing the right thing.
I hear about independence of the judiciary from my friends opposite, but this strikes at the heart of that. If we're going to be encroaching on a matter currently before the court that is the subject of litigation, we have to be really sure that we are not doing something improper as a committee, so the discussion, under the terms of this motion, will happen in camera, and that's perfectly normal. That's the way this usually would go.
I agree with Mr. Cooper that this is certainly an unusual circumstance. Obviously, having this matter come before our committee in this fashion is an unusual tool to use. We are trying to find a way as committee members to work with them on finding an avenue forward. I believe the motion is clear that we're going to deal with it relatively quickly in camera on Tuesday, February 19, as the motion says. It's the perfectly normal way that those discussions would happen among committee members.
I want to also make clear that the purpose of this motion is to stipulate that future meetings would be in public. We're talking about an in camera meeting to discuss those issues that are normally dealt with in camera, with the added element of a legal principle, the sub judice rule, that we as a committee have to consider to ensure that we are not doing something improper.
I want to turn to Mr. Poilievre's statement. He talked about lobbying with SNC-Lavalin. We know there are oftentimes discussions with politicians and lobbyists. That's normal. We know that Andrew Scheer met with SNC-Lavalin. We know that other politicians met with them to discuss a remediation agreement. We know, as Mr. Boissonnault said, that remediation agreements or deferred prosecution agreements, as the members opposite have been calling them, are perfectly usual in other countries that we deal with on a regular basis. I think it is important to put in the whole context of this situation the purpose of remediation agreements, which is why, as I understand it, it is in this motion. I don't think it's just an aside that we should ensure that Canadians understand what the Shawcross doctrine is and what remediation agreements are, but we have to make sure that we are doing it in a thoughtful way.
I would note as well that Mr. Poilievre sits on the finance committee, which would have dealt with the issue of remediation agreements, and I don't recall there being a discussion from Mr. Poilievre at that time about how the matter should come to our committee.
I think there are a number of issues at play here that we do need to take seriously. I think the members on this side of the committee are willing to take these matters seriously and work with our friends in the opposition. To go back to the the chair's original comments, if there is truly an interest in determining these items, then we need to do so in a way that will have the confidence of Canadians.
What I've seen here today I'm not sure would carry the confidence of Canadians. I will leave my comments there and say that I will be supporting this motion unamended.