Thank you, Mr. Moore. I'm aware of that recommendation.
Right now, it's a true parliamentary committee and therefore we're subject to the usual rules of parliamentary committees, including [Technical difficulty—Editor] rules. That's perfectly fine, and I answer questions in that vein. My understanding of the nature of the session this afternoon is that it's a “get to know the candidate better” session.
The Supreme Court appointment process is in the hands of the Prime Minister. Madam Campbell and her committee, and ultimately I, as Minister of Justice, in conducting consultations on the short list, are only making recommendations to the Prime Minister.
My understanding—and this was the preferred view of that session—is that the opportunity you will have this afternoon with the proposed candidate is to ask the candidate questions and to get to know him or her better. It was felt that this should not be a normal parliamentary committee.
I've been through two processes thus far as Minister of Justice. This is my second one. I certainly thought the process went extremely well the last time around, with Justice Kasirer, and from what I could see as a member of Parliament, it went quite well with Justice Rowe and Justice Martin.
These are unprecedented.... They work very well. It gives transparency to the committee. I think it works quite well to involve the general public in that, including a leading law dean, as we're having this afternoon.