Welcome, everyone, this is the opening of our new study, but before we get to that I just wanted to say thank you. I understand that we're still waiting on one member, but we're going to start relatively on time. We've done our sound checks as required and now we're moving on.
Today we have two designated hours. The first hour is to launch our new study, and the second hour will be for committee business. Let's not forget that we have a different password for the committee business section. I can remind you of that again a little later, but for now we're all logged in and ready to go. Our study begins on challenges and issues faced by the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As usual we start with departmental officials. We have with us today Madame Hélène Laurendeau, deputy minister of the Department of Canadian Heritage; David Dendooven, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy and corporate affairs; and Jean-Stéphen Piché, senior assistant deputy minister, cultural affairs. I hope I've done some justice to your names and not managed to foul this up, but I hope you will correct me in the subsequent round if necessary.
Just as a quick reminder to everyone, the way this works is that if you're listening to us on ParlVU, welcome along. We have three witnesses who will be given five minutes for their opening statements. The witnesses have provided the committee and the chair with a copy of their statements in advance. Thank you.
Following that, six minutes will be allocated for the first questioner and then each party as follows: in round one, we'll have the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party. For the second and subsequent rounds, we'll get to that when we get there. In the meantime I have a question for Madame Laurendeau.
Is that five minutes just for you, or would you like to share it minutes with the other witnesses as well?