With all respect, Mr. Chair,
As the member said, I am new on the committee and I hope that we will share the following idea.
It's real work we're trying to do on behalf of the people. Infrastructure finds itself in a special circumstance. It's been asked to be entrusted with more dollars than it's ever had--by a multiple--and I assume the interest is just as genuine on the other side of the committee. We're not going to get that work done in these supplementary estimates. I assume we're going to have another chance at that.
I would ask this of the parliamentary secretary. We've been trying to get the second part of our briefing, which was cut to 45 minutes, for the last four days. As a gesture of goodwill, I'd like to see that briefing scheduled soon so we can do our part of this obligation in terms of basic information being made available in a timely manner.
I guess I would just register this, Mr. Chair. Knowing the minister of infrastructure from the past, I think he would accept the obligation. It's his job to explain what happens or doesn't happen. Paper being shuffled back and forth doesn't do that.
When it comes to the main estimates or moving forward, we'll need to have a chance to look at that, but I am interested in getting the basic information from the ministry. I know it's busy. We don't want to delay what has to get done, but there are some very relevant things we'd like to find out.