Mr. Chair, I would like to read subsection 9(1) of the National Capital Act, 1985. That is what is being referred to. The subsection reads as follows:
9. (1) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Commission consisting of the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer and three other members to be appointed by the Commission, at least one of whom shall be from the Province of Quebec.
A little later, subsection 9(3) deals with other committees, including a National Capital Planning Committee. It was all necessary because the intent was for all the various topics to be dealt with by committees with in-depth knowledge of those topics.
Now we are kind of taking a step backwards but saying that we are moving with the times. The NCC has an executive committee. In our Parliament Hill context, all our committees have steering committees so that everything does not have to be discussed at the full committee. Many discussion items are handled at those steering committee meetings.
The National Capital Commission has an executive committee and we would like it to have a member from Quebec and at least one member from Ontario. They would be able to deal with all kinds of matters much more easily and simply than if the whole committee were there. Just imagine! If they had to have a meeting to decide the topics for an upcoming discussion, with four people in an office, three by teleconference, and so on, it would be hell. It would so be much easier to have an executive committee.