I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 29 of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations.
Pursuant to order of reference of Wednesday, September 23, 2020, the committee is meeting for its study of Canada-China relations.
This is a hybrid meeting, pursuant to the motion passed by the House on January 25, 2021.
Today's meeting is in accordance with paragraph (c) of the House order of Wednesday, June 2, which provides the following:
the Minister of Health shall be ordered to appear before the special committee, for at least three hours, at a televised meeting, to be held within two weeks of the adoption of this order, to discuss the documents and the matters referred to in them;
As you all know, these documents are related to a transfer of viruses that occurred in March 2019, as well as the revocation of security clearances and the termination of employment of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory.
I would also like to remind everyone that while the witnesses must answer all of the questions the committee puts to them, members have been urged to display appropriate courtesy and fairness when questioning witnesses.
I would now like to welcome the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, as well as Iain Stewart, president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, acting vice-president of the National Microbiology Laboratory.
Thank you all for being here.
I will now turn to Minister Hajdu for the opening remarks.
Minister, please proceed. You have five minutes.