Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like us to have an opportunity to deal with this matter as quickly as possible so we can hear what our witnesses have to say today. They will be speaking about a subject that is extremely important: regional air transportation.
I think regional air transportation has been in crisis for many long years. The subject deserves to be given our attention and have us do it properly. It is also a matter of respect for the witnesses who are here today.
That said, I would also not want to give the impression that I think Ms. Lewis's motion is not important and the subject does not deserve our attention. For that reason, I am going to make a few comments on the motion.
I would first like to address something that others have also raised before me. Point a of the motion asks that the committee be provided with the resignation letter of Andrée‑Lise Méthot. I think that has already been done, so it may no longer be useful for it to be included in the motion. The same is true of the request set out in point b, that the committee be provided with “a comprehensive and detailed summary of the projects and funds that she oversaw during her time on the CIB board”. If I am not mistaken, that document has been provided to us. Again, it seems to me that it is no longer useful to request it.
There perhaps remains the request in point c, which may be of some use to the committee.
I would also like to raise something else. The introduction to the motion itself states that Sustainable Development Technologies Canada, or SDTC, is under investigation by the Auditor General of Canada and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. In fact, the Auditor General is not investigating at present since her investigation has been completed. This part should therefore be reworded to reflect the fact that she has submitted her report on the matter, which is in fact rather devastating regarding management of the funds.
With respect to summoning witnesses, I would need to hear further explanation regarding the reasons for inviting Mr. Dominic LeBlanc and Jayne Huntley, PCO director of appointments. I understand the reasons in the cases of Ms. Méthot and Ehren Cory. I also have a theory about the reasons for including Mr. LeBlanc and Ms. Huntley in the witness list. However, I might like to have an explanation from the people who are proposing this to help me get a better idea of the usefulness of the invitation.
There may be another point I would like to make. It seems to me that inviting each of these people, individually, for a two-hour period each, is a bit much. It also seems to me that these people might find that a bit intimidating. From what I understand, Ms. Méthot has resigned from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the SDTC. In any event, the Sustainable Development Technology Fund is no longer managed by the SDTC; it is managed by the National Research Council Canada, or NRCC.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is currently doing an investigation. I think we are going to be looking at what the Commissioner has to say to us on this subject, but I have the impression, or rather I am afraid, that we are abusing our powers and engaging in a kind of witch-hunt, or even a kind of inquisition tribunal, that might want to launch an attack on an individual. I think that individual is entitled to defend their integrity. However, I am not opposed to the individual testifying and explaining themselves, and to us doing the work expected of the committee, but, on the other hand, there are also investigations under way.
For these reasons, it seems to me that holding one meeting that all the witnesses in question would attend would perhaps enable us to determine whether it is necessary to go any further. What concerns me is obviously that we not ostracize an individual without sufficient grounds for doing so.
Those are all my comments on the motion. On the amendment proposed by Mr. Bachrach, I am prepared to consider it, but I will continue meditating on it, because I assume other people want to speak on the subject.
Thank you.