Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We're talking about Minister Sean Fraser here. He's not afraid to speak. He speaks quite well, and I think he would come and provide value. I have no doubt he would provide value to the public and to this committee. He can make the case that others want to make on the other side. He can explain why he had nothing to do with it. He can explain how a million dollars can go into a project that doesn't get completed and what he's doing to make sure that doesn't happen again because there is, of course, accountability to the public.
The public has no accountability mechanism other than through the minister and Parliament for the decisions of the CIB. They want to be arm's length but they are spending tax dollars. For the public and parliamentarians, the only access that we have to that accountability is through the minister, and that's the entire way this is set up. That's why he is the minister responsible for the Canada Infrastructure Bank, so I don't think Minister Fraser will be intimidated by this committee. He won't be afraid to come. He doesn't need to be protected and taken off of this list. He can come to explain how this has been set up.
As well, part (b) of the motion refers once again to the fact that the government has refused to accept the recommendation of this committee to abolish the Canada Infrastructure Bank. There are two parts of this. First, why did a million dollars get wasted and the project didn't go ahead? Second, why aren't you listening to this parliamentary committee, which has recommended that the CIB be abolished?
Minister Fraser should be invited. We can talk about the number of hours he should speak or be available to us. We can talk about the composition of the panels that he comes with, or what order he comes in—whether he wants to come first or last. We're open to those discussions. However, to suggest that the minister responsible for the Canada Infrastructure Bank does not have a role to play or anything to offer this committee when we're talking about Canada Infrastructure Bank expenditures, I think is simply the government protecting their minister from having to answer those questions.
He's responsible for the Canada Infrastructure Bank. That is extremely clear. That is part of the mandate. If you look at the CIB's website, there will be a picture of Sean Fraser on the front page, so let's not pretend that he has nothing to answer for here. That would be a decision of this committee, but it would not be based on what is right or what is proper. It would be a political decision.
We think he can come to answer our questions and defend the million dollars that went to a project that didn't get built. Then he can defend why the government insists on keeping the Canada Infrastructure Bank, against the advice of this very committee.