Mr. Speaker, other government members have given the same explanation as my colleague. They say that he is an independent and non-partisan official, as if that were a reason for not allowing him to appear before a committee.
I do not know which committee my colleague sits on, but officials appear before parliamentary committees all the time, and that does not cast any doubt on their impartiality. When we tried to invite Daniel Jean to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, we were told to trust these officials and that they are independent and impartial.
What connection is my colleague drawing between Daniel Jean’s invitation to appear before the committee and the need for him to maintain his independence?