For several weeks now, the committee has been examining product labelling. While Parliament was in recess and members were back in their ridings, the minister made an announcement. There is nothing unusual about that. The other committee that I serve on is currently looking into the problem of cigarette smuggling. Here again, the Prime Minister has made a number of announcements, even though the committee has not yet completed its study. This seems to be typical pattern of behaviour for the government.
I am a newly elected MP. When I meet with the local press, I am proud to speak to them about the committee's work. They question me about procedure and about when measures will be adopted. They report that I seem to have a lax approach because I am not up on my committee's work. I tell them what the normal procedure is, but the following week, the government comes out with an announcement. People then say that Mrs. Thi Lac takes a lax approach to her work. I'm not saying this because I am biased. I'm only saying that resorting to unusual tactics seems to be the norm for this government, because the same thing is happening in several committees. Last May, the two committees on which I serve had this happen to them.
Does the government plan to take a similar approach with every committee? Is the work of MPs destined to be rendered obsolete? As committee members, are we destined to serve nothing more than a decorative purpose? It's important to get an answer to that question. You maintain that this is good news for Canadians, but I want to know what purpose committees are serving then? We approve budgets to hear from witnesses. We have yet to hear from all of the witnesses and yet, the government is making announcements. It is important to follow standard committee procedure, that is to wait for our recommendations, out of respect for the work we do as parliamentarians, and also out of respect for the witnesses.