Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I've listened to the arguments, and in light of the arguments presented the one thing that's very clear is that our side, the government, has been accused of reading talking points here today. I can't imagine some of the things that have been said on the other side that aren't exactly that, time after time after time. In light of the arguments proposed, I think most of us on this committee would agree to hold a meeting, and we'd agree as soon as practical after the House convenes, because that would allow the independent work that's going on right now not to be duplicated by this committee.
I think it would be relevant for this committee to undertake that when the House convenes, because it would mean we would be here in Ottawa. It would mean no expense to the taxpayer to fly someone from the west--or in the case of the person who didn't show up here today and who proposed this motion, flying in from Vancouver--and the costs that are entailed to hold a committee meeting like this. Canadians should know that.
I don't think there's any disagreement that we should not be looking into and being accountable for all of the issues around the G-8 and do that analysis and submit our thoughts as we normally would as a committee. But this interruption of our constituency work, which most of us are heavily involved with and have responsibilities to do, is absolutely unnecessary, because there are studies going on currently in the Toronto police.
Do I think Canadians were happy with the results to host the G-8 and G-20? The feedback I'm getting is yes, they were very happy. I also think they were horrified by the actions of the thugs. So I think we can all agree on that. Polls would indicate that the support of the public for the police is exceptionally high, in the very difficult situations they had to deal with.
On a personal level, I live in the neighbourhood of the police chief locally and a member of the OPP, who were involved in the security of these summits. When I talk personally with them on the street, I tell you there were some extenuating circumstances that were very difficult to deal with. They should be commended. We commend them. Toronto City Council commended them, and we should do the same.
We hosted the world's most influential leaders, and we are morally and legally obligated to protect them. During summits we advanced our positions, and that's what's been articulated here, what Canada articulated. Canada went in and set the goals to do. We came out on every one with top marks, and we're looked at by our international partners to be, if not the leading country in the world on economic policy, real close to being the leader.
To me, today is all about the politics and the optics that the opposition has wanted to present to the public on this, unnecessarily. We need to get back to work on this issue when we get back to Parliament. We need to have the facts in front of us that are brought together by the independent parties that are studying them now. We do not need to duplicate their work. We do not need to cost Canadian taxpayers more money with these committee meetings, having to travel to Ottawa, having to take the time and the resources of Parliament to do this.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.