I'll call this meeting to order.
Welcome to the 11th meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on October 24, 2020, the committee is resuming its study on processing capacity.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House Order of September 23, 2020. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. So you are aware, the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow.
Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of either Floor, English or French.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. A reminder that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.
When you are not speaking, your mic should be on mute.
With that we are ready to begin.
First, I would like to welcome our witnesses to today's meeting. From CropLife Canada we have Ian Affleck, vice-president, biotechnology. We also have Dennis Prouse, vice-president, government affairs. From the Government of Alberta, we have assistant deputy minister Jamie Curran, processing, trade, and intergovernmental relations division, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
We'll get going.
If CropLife wants to start, you have seven and a half minutes for your opening statement. Go ahead.