Thanks very much, Chair.
I need to say that I was really disappointed to hear Mr. Bezan say what he just said in his last point of order. If we're serious about working together productively, then I think we bring these motions forward so that every member has a chance to review them and consider them and discuss them. I think Mr. Bezan has been around here long enough to know this. When you continually introduce a motion at the last minute, you're going to have to understand that doing so is going to cause delays. That's the first thing.
The second thing is this. I was earlier making a comment that Mr. Bezan, on a point of order, objected to, so I'll try to make it now. It is about the comment made by a member during the debate on the previous amendment that we must summon Mr. Marques.
I don't believe there is evidence to support that we need to summon Mr. Marques. Mr. Marques, according to what the clerk has told us, has been responsive and appears willing to testify, to come to committee. It has been the case for decades that we don't summon witnesses because we feel like it; we summon witnesses because there is an absolute need to summon them when they refuse to come to present and respond to questions at committee. I don't believe a case has been made that we need to summon Mr. Marques.
In the prior vote, on Madame Larouche's subamendment, we agreed to a timeline for the study. If we have agreed to a timeline for the study, I don't understand the need to summon, based on the argument that Mr. Marques has been responsive and that we have an agreed timeline for completing the report.
Those are the couple of points I wanted to make.
The other point I want to make is that in the heat of politics and the heat of the moment, people sometimes lose track of how important it is that we treat people, whether they have different political views or not, with a certain amount of dignity. I think that summoning someone who has been responsive and willing to testify does unnecessary harm to that person's reputation. I think the summons should be used very judiciously. In this particular case I don't think it would be used judiciously. I think this would be harmful. That's why I support Ms. Vandenbeld's suggestion that we amend “summon” to say “invite”. I hope my colleagues from all sides will agree with that.
Thanks very much, Chair.