Thanks, Mr. Chair. I brought forward this motion in good faith to attempt to provide some substance for the annual report requirements for the regulator. Committee raised this issue, as well. We have been working with the Minister's staff to try to come to some understanding or whatever on this.
I find out in the House from the Minister that the Minister and his staff have been talking to the National Energy Board and the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations about whether this is acceptable to these outside organizations, institutions, and from what the Minister said there are concerns that have been raised that have the implication of influencing how some Members may vote on this.
We are here to do a job in the public interest to make the best possible laws. Having an outside body influencing what we are doing here I just don't think is an appropriate way for us to create new legislation.
Look, I recognize everybody is rushed, and in an ideal world there might have been an opportunity to reach some sort of accommodation on this understanding, but to receive the information in Committee of the Whole while the motion is before us is not helpful, and I think has the effect of chilling the kind of decision that we can and should be making freely as Members of this House to bring forward the best possible laws for our people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.