Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to all of our witnesses who are here today.
Chair, it's unfortunate but I'm going to be moving the two motions that I put on notice. I think this is perhaps a lesson in hindsight and also in looking ahead that perhaps we should plan to schedule committee business on our return to the House after any significant period of delay because certainly we want to use the time with our witnesses as well as possible, but I also feel these motions need to be made, ultimately, for their benefit.
The first motion I put on notice, which I will read now, is:
That the Committee hold a minimum of one meeting to hear witness testimony from Transport Canada officials regarding approval of the 737 MAX aircraft return to service, and that these meetings occur no later than 18 February 2021.
Mr. Chair, I did say a minimum of one meeting—it could be only one meeting—but I do think, as we concluded the session in the early winter, that we did not go so far as to put forward the idea of a national inquiry into the MAX. I do believe it is our responsibility to return to this issue for one final meeting with officials from Transport Canada, given their public justification on the record as to the rationale behind the return of the MAX.
The second notice of motion I'm putting forward is:
That the Committee invite the Transport Minister to appear for two hours, with the first hour focussed on the Supplemental Mandate Letter
—which of course brings up very important points, new points, the first one being particularly relevant to the group of witnesses we have here today around an airline plan. It seems to me that all of our witnesses are very aware of this, and I'm certain they've read point number one on the supplemental mandate letter—
and the second hour on the pre-entry testing requirements,
—and given that it is front-page news that we are seeing new travel requirements, which we anticipate will be implemented any day, relevant to that—
and that this meeting occur as soon as possible but no later than 25 February 2021.
I put forward those motions, which I put on notice previously, Chair.
Again, my sincere apologies to the witnesses. I'm hopeful in the future we can put forward at least a half-hour or hour of committee business prior to having witnesses scheduled so as not to take away from their valuable time.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.