Mr. Chair, pardon me, but I had the floor; I'm taking it.
I'm extremely surprised at the turn things are taking this morning toward dirty politics, at the tone of the questions and at the dialogue between the minister and the members. I believe there's another place than here, if we want to engage in dirty politics. So I'd like my colleagues to try to remember that.
Don't calculate the length of this speech, Mr. Chair, because this is a lesson I was giving people.
To begin, Ms. Tining, welcome. We wish you good luck. I know that you have the assistance of one of my friends, Verna Bruce, so that will go well.
Minister, I have some questions, and I'd like to have a talk in the form of a question-answer dialogue. So I ask brief questions, and people give me brief answers.
My first question concerns the position of ombudsman. Our report should be published this week or very soon. I hope you intend to establish or table the legislation in the House of Commons as soon as possible so that the ombudsman position is created. You know the situation of this government as well as I do; we never know when there will be an election. It would be lamentable for us to have worked so hard and for that to fall into oblivion. I would appreciate your comments on the subject. Please be brief.