I call the meeting to order. I welcome everyone back to the agriculture committee.
We're going to start into our discussions on the agricultural growth act, Bill C-18, and as most of you know, it is a bill that we are going to amend, an act to amend certain acts relating to agriculture and agrifood.
We are a little late getting started. We have Minister Ritz with us today for the first hour. Then we'll follow through with the witnesses later, in terms of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and also the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, along with the Department of Justice, in the second hour.
I welcome Minister Ritz to our committee. I also welcome with the minister, Mr. Rosser Lloyd, director general of the business risk management programs directorate, programs branch. I welcome back William Anderson, executive director of the plant health and biosecurity directorate.
Minister, we would ask that you open with your statement and then we'll go into rounds of questions from the committee members.