Mr. Chair, you're an experienced member and many of us have sat on other committees. We know that when we are faced with a study the committee has already agreed to undertake and we are inviting witnesses outside the normal scope of.... Public accounts is a committee where we have guaranteed witnesses—the Auditor General and officials from the department—who are directly concerned.
It has come about in this session of Parliament that we are being confronted with the unilateral invitation of witnesses, which is outside of our normal way of functioning. This motion speaks to the practice that other committees have, which is that there's consultation with the members and the chair proceeds in consultation with the members. There is an added caveat that in public accounts, it has been the normal practice that this be done by consensus, but in the least, we should have the consultation done in good form, as we say.
I think the motion is clear. I, for one, am ready to vote on it.