Thank you, Chair.
I don't know if there's any history of the term “potted plant” being found unparliamentary.
I will underline the point that in our system of government, the public expects ministers to take responsibility—not to be specifically involved in the minutiae of every small decision, but to be responsible for the policy direction, the culture, the frameworks, the rules and the adherence to the norms that the public expects, so if the Liberals' best defence of what happened in the arrive scam scandal is to say that the ministers don't have anything to do with what happens inside of government, I would submit that this is also a problem. It is a problem either way.
That's to the general point around ministerial accountability. Of course, we need to hear from Minister Anand specifically in reference to an announcement she made yesterday about her work as President of the Treasury Board and the steps the government says it is taking in this regard. I think it's very clear and particular in the context of what we heard yesterday, both at committee and through the media, that hearing from Minister Anand is of particular importance.
This is why this motion was put forward today. I don't doubt that some members will not agree with some aspects of my commentary, but I hope that they won't get in the way of supporting a common-sense motion to invite the President of the Treasury Board to appear before this committee to speak about her work, the work of her department and the announcement and actions she has spoken about.