Madam Chair, I believe it is important for all my colleagues in attendance to fully understand the rules so that everyone is aware of this way of doing things. It's important that you clarify the procedure to follow going forward.
Is this standard practice for the committee? Could you clarify the situation? Can the clerk help shed some light on the procedures? Is there a rule or procedure of which I'm unaware, but that I would like to delve into to fully understand how the committee works? Based on my experience as a member of this committee for the past four years, I must say this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. At this point, I find the situation quite uncomfortable. We have always acted with a great deal of transparency and respect. What I am seeing today is that the way things are done is changing, and I do not believe that this is the right way to achieve respectful and healthy collaboration. We need to ensure that we, as a committee, can truly be comfortable with the way we work.
Today, I have to tell you that the way you want to curtail this debate makes me somewhat uncomfortable. I'm simply trying to ask questions about the procedure. On two or three occasions, I asked you to confirm that you had made the decision before informing us. You don't seem to want to answer. I'm not looking for a confrontation between us, but the evidence is right in front of me. So, it's not just a matter of trying to buy time, but of saying that we need to set the record straight to prevent this kind of situation from happening again. Despite my attempts, I see that you don't want to answer so that all the members of the committee have the same information. That is also what equality means: everyone must be informed of the situation so that we all have the same information. Today, I wonder if my colleagues would like to receive the same information by email, or if they would like to take a little time out of the committee's meeting. Once again, I'd like to thank the witnesses who've joined us today for their understanding.
That said, we don't have an agenda for today's committee meeting. So it would be impossible to have that kind of discussion.
Do you think it would be possible to clarify the situation today?