Mr. Chair, I appreciate the clerk's providing us with the chronology of the motion and when it was submitted. It's important to note that when we passed this motion in committee on October 21, we gave five working days. There was a little bit of flexibility on that; we discussed that, knowing full well that information had been requested of the department by Madame Faille months ago, roughly four months in advance of my official request that was approved by the committee.
This information is in the possession of the department. I don't understand why they are asking for this extension. It's unacceptable that on the day of the response they verbally or in writing gave us a very vague explanation and then continued to ask for an extension. To say it's only in one language again seems like a delay technique.
This information should be readily available; it should be in the department. They've had sufficient time to provide it. They are undermining the work of the committee, because this is something the committee has requested. It's timely information for a report that we want to submit to the House of Commons.
Chair, I would strongly urge that we need to receive a response more quickly than this. I feel that the timeline is unacceptable in light of the information that is already available in the department.