Good morning, everyone.
Welcome to meeting number 29 of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
I would ask all in-person participants to read the guidelines written on the updated cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent feedback incidents and protect the health and safety of all participants, including and especially our interpreters. You will notice there's a QR code, which links to a short awareness video.
Please wait until I recognize you by name before you speak. All comments should be addressed through the chair.
Pursuant to the order of reference of February 10, 2026, the committee is meeting to study Bill S-227, an act respecting Arab heritage month. Subsequently, we will deal with Bill S-210, an act respecting Ukrainian heritage month.
I'd like to provide members of the committee with a few comments on how committees proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of a bill.
As the name indicates, this is an examination of all clauses in the order in which they appear in the bill. I'll call each clause successively, and each clause is subject to debate and a vote. If there are amendments to the clause in question, I'll recognize the member proposing it, who may explain it.
Since this is the first exercise for many new members, the chair will go slowly to allow all members to follow the proceedings properly. If during the process the committee decides not to vote on a clause, that clause can be put aside by the committee so we can revisit it later in the process.
Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will vote on the title and the bill itself. An order to reprint the bill may be required if amendments are adopted so that the House has a proper copy for use at report stage.
I thank members for their attention and wish everyone a productive clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-227 and Bill S-210.
We'll begin with Bill S-227.
We have with us today the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, the MP who is sponsoring this bill in the House of Commons.
Sir, you have five minutes for an opening statement, and then I'll turn to members. We'll just do one six-minute round, and then we'll proceed with clause-by-clause consideration. If a member wishes to use all six minutes for their party, that's fine. If you want to share time with another member, that's also fine. I think six minutes is probably enough to get through this very short and uncontroversial bill.
We will begin with Mr. Hussen's opening statement.