I'm sorry, Chair. I wasn't sure if there were any hands raised among our colleagues who have joined us virtually here today.
I'm a little bit perplexed, Chair. I would quote my colleague, and the number of times he has said “may” or “may not”. You know, whether it is one thing or the other, this is a bit challenging for me. I'm not sure what the objective of this motion is. I'm not sure whether this is the right committee for this motion to be presented in.
I will read the motion right now. It says:
...the press release issued by Minister Champagne...announcing resumed funding to Sustainable Development Technology Canada projects under reinforced contribution agreements signed with the Department of Industry, the committee orders the production of all such contribution agreements and that they be deposited with the clerk of the committee within 14 days following the adoption of this motion.
That is probably one of the vaguest motions I've seen in a very long time, given the context of why we're here and what we're doing here. I've seen so many of my colleagues over these years as a young Liberal and as I was going through law school and really actively participating in just keeping an eye on what happens in Canadian democracy. I remember past governments and Conservative members, including their opposition leader, posing with companies with massive cheques and saying, “Hey, look at what we did. Look at what we did.”
I'm not sure if that's the angle they're trying to get at, that members of Parliament should not celebrate the success of industry or should recuse themselves if money is being doled out in positive ways. I don't want to take away from the importance of the SDTC study that is going on here, because I do not agree with any wrongdoing in the use of taxpayer dollars, but at the same time, isn't it the objective of the Minister of Industry to promote Canadian industry? As I said earlier with....
I'll perhaps pause while the Conservatives are conferring over there, Chair.