Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have some questions about the meaning of the term “consecutive”. My understanding is that the literal definition of the word means back-to-back meetings. I don't think that's what this committee really wants to have. If we had eight back-to-back meetings, that would be at least 16 hours of testimony. I just want to get clarification on that, perhaps from the clerk.
Speaking more substantively to the motion, I think it would be appropriate for this committee to consider a travel component to these eight meetings. As I said, there are a lot of communities that lack the capacity to come to Ottawa or participate in meetings, either physically or through rural broadband, which, as we know, is very poor. Even in my region, which is next to a major metropolitan area, people can't get access to high-speed Internet. I think it would be critical—on the side of reconciliation with indigenous peoples, specifically—for this committee to entertain at least one trip to northern Canada.
I'm always willing to work with other committee members to find something acceptable, but I think having a number of open meetings so witnesses in northern Canada can participate in their own communities would be very important for this.
I'm in support of this motion and would like some clarification on “consecutive”.