Good afternoon, everyone. You're stuck with me again as chair.
I call this meeting to order. Welcome to meeting number 14 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is taking place on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Pursuant to the motion adopted by this committee on Monday, January 31, 2022, this meeting is studying the Status of the Artist Act and its impact on improving basic working conditions for artists.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room, and remotely using the Zoom application.
I'm going to skip over the part about people who are attending in the room. I think we all know those rules.
For members attending by Zoom, I will recognize you by name before speaking. Click on the microphone icon to activate your mike. Please mute yourself when you are not speaking. Interpretation is available for those on Zoom. You have the choice at the bottom of your screen of floor, English or French. For those of you in the room, you know what to do.
For those on Zoom, raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you lose interpretation, please raise a point of order as quickly as possible. In accordance with the routine motion, all witnesses have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting.
We will now begin with opening comments and statements. Each group will have five minutes to speak, and that can be divided up among different witnesses within that group.
We will begin with the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Mr. Thomas Owen Ripley and Ms. Kelly Beaton, the floor is yours for five minutes.