Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to go back to talking about the current request for proposals for the surface combatant design. In the request for proposals, there is a clause in there, and essentially it's a gag order on anyone who's bidding on the design phase, any of their subcontractors or their employees, and I quote right here from the CBC, “any public comment, respond to questions in a public forum or carry out any activities to either criticize another bidder or any bid—or publicly advertise their qualifications”. That is prohibited.
Now Dr. Danny Lam—and I've talked to him about this—said in the CBC story this morning, “The clause will effectively stifle any public debate about the procurement”.
David Perry, who both of you are very familiar with.... After we had the department on Friday, he tried to clarify it. He said, “I don't understand how it could have been misconstrued: 'You shall not speak in public.' It's an attempt to keep the competition out of the headlines.”
Do you believe this clause that's in this request for proposals has the probability of showing up in other requests for proposals going forward from DND? How is this going to impact the public debate, and the debate here in the House of Commons, and being able to properly analyze the different options that are coming forward? Also, how does it impact both of you in how you do your research on defence policy?
Who wants to start?