Thank you, Chair.
Again, just briefly, I think it's unfortunate when witnesses decline. Obviously, an invitation means an invitation, but I think, as you've mentioned, it's slightly stronger than a simple invitation. The two individuals that I'm most concerned about are John Ossowski, who was the president of the CBSA during the time period of ArriveCAN, and Paul Girard, who was mentioned very clearly in the testimony of Mr. Firth at the bar.
I think those two individuals in particular are very key to our study, so I would like to move a motion:
That John Ossowski and Paul Girard be summoned to appear before the committee on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in relation to the study on “Report 1—ArriveCAN, of the 2024 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.
I believe the clerk has that motion in both English and French and can distribute it.
Very simply, I'll just say a couple of sentences on it.
I think that when we have key witnesses who are refusing to come, who have key testimony related to this study, their attendance ought to be required. I would have hoped, frankly, that Mr. Firth's testimony at the bar might be a cautionary tale to those who would rather decline the authority of Parliament, but I think that at this point we have to move to a summons for those two individuals.
I will leave my comments there, Chair, because I don't want to eat up any more time of this committee.