Thank you, Mr. Chair.
While I would like to hear from the three people suggested in the motion, I just want to remind my colleagues that I do have a motion on the table to do an independent investigation into all of the proceedings and to go back over a long period of time. I've requested many documents in that regard. So I don't want the motion before us today to forget that.
I've heard from my colleagues from the Bloc, from the Conservatives, and also from the Liberal Party that this is an important issue that needs to be thoroughly investigated. But whether or not the natural resources committee is the body to do this thorough investigation is the question that I have. Would it be more appropriately done under the Auditor General or another eminent person we may decide upon, someone independent, so there is not the back-and-forth “he said, she said” rhetoric that we've been subjected to for the last couple of days?
So I would support hearing from the three witnesses, but as to the extensive investigation, I'd consider having that done under an independent body. I've heard people bring that up outside this House as well as inside. I think it's important that we have an independent investigation that can focus on the procedural and administrative issues we are investigating here. This committee can focus on the other important topics that are facing Canada. We're looking at a crisis in our forest industry, and we want to continue studies on other issues as well.
That's not to say that this isn't important, but with an independent investigation done thoroughly, by an independent person, we wouldn't be getting into the back and forth at this committee.