Mr. Chair, here we are for the third time, a few days having gone by between each meeting.
We all have colleagues on other committees. Some of us are also on other committees. What I proposed today is in line with what other committees have already agreed to, including the Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, and the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Why are we indulging in hairsplitting? I have no idea. There is unhappiness about the amount of time between the first and second turns, giving the official opposition the impression it got a bit of a raw deal. That interval, I will admit, is the result of my amending my original proposal in order to give the official opposition the first opportunity to speak in the first round. If the official opposition grows too weary during that long interval, perhaps we can go back to the original proposal. I really do think it benefits the official opposition, however. Those members told us they preferred to speak first. But that does give rise to a long interval between speaking opportunities, as they have noted.
The proposal I put on the table today is not unusual. It has already been agreed to by a number of other House of Commons committees, including not just those I mentioned, but others as well.
If you don't mind, Mr. Chair, I would like to put the amendment to a vote, so we can settle the matter once and for all and get on with it.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.