Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I apologize for my absence today. I am a bit under the weather, but I do want to jump in.
I agree with MP Blaney that we need to get to the women's study. We need to get to the pressing issues that are in front of this committee now and that have been for quite some time.
I will remind this committee that I warned this committee many months ago that this discussion, the motion that was originally brought forward by MP Desilets, was going to result in mission creep. That's exactly what's happened. We're seeing an attempt by the opposition, specifically the Conservatives now, to make this into something it is not.
I also want to thank MP Ruff for his service, and I agree with him that, quite frankly, this is exactly what frustrates veterans. The veterans I've spoken to at length don't want us to be sniping back and forth in attempts to embarrass the government. They want us to deal with the issues of the day. They want us to deal in very speedy fashion with the motions that are in front of us.
I think it's important to remind the committee and those who are watching what, in fact, the committee has agreed to study and to get to. It's not just the women's study. So far, I have gone through a first pass of it. It is excellent, and I thank the analysts for the work they've done on this. I look forward to getting back to that and getting that tabled in the House of Commons as quickly as possible.
However, there's more than just that study. We have a motion that was tabled by my colleague MP Sarai on the effects on Canadian veterans of exposure to burn pits. I'll read it, because it's been a while since we discussed it, just to remind everybody what that is.
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on the effects of exposure to burn pits on Canadian Veterans, including but not limited to, during the mission in Afghanistan, as well as the potential long-term effects on the health and well-being of Veterans. That the Committee hold a minimum of 4 meetings to hear from witnesses; that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109—