I'm amending the motion. I'm doing a preamble to an amendment to the motion.
I would like to amend the motion so that we also include some people who could shed light on what happened, in the sense that there were three months between the time General Vance was named and the time of the change of command. We've seen in the media some allegations that some things were known then. If we're going to be looking at how to fix things, we also need to look at where things went wrong.
I suggest that we also bring Ray Novak, who was chief of staff to then prime minister Stephen Harper; and Gerrit Nieuwoudt, who was chief of staff to then defence minister Jason Kenney.
I would like to make a point, though, about a word in this motion. I think we should change the word “summon” to the word “invite”. I can understand the reasoning behind summoning Mr. Trotter. If that's the case—the clerk could maybe clarify—and if that will give him more ability to speak freely, I would be open to summoning him.
I have checked with the Library of Parliament. In the history of this defence committee, there has been only one witness they could find who has ever been summoned, and that's Mr. Walbourne. In the history of Parliament, in the annotated Standing Orders, you can find only a handful of names of people who have been summoned to come to speak before Parliament.
I was in the ethics committee when one of these instances happened.