Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My colleague was able to determine a little while ago, at the committee's request, that the deputy minister has indeed been detained on an urgent matter. That matter relates to the issue in Caledonia, Ontario. He's been required, at the request of the Privy Council, to focus on that issue. I understand he'll be detained on that issue until sometime mid-evening today. He indicated that he would be most pleased and eager to join the committee immediately thereafter or in the day soonest, at the committee's convenience.
I would like to specify that it's certainly not the deputy's wish to in any way offend the committee or to set priorities. The deputy felt that it was imperative that he respond to the Privy Council and bring the attention to this very delicate and difficult matter for these next hours.