Good evening to the committee members and our guests here today.
I'd like to call this meeting to order and welcome everyone to meeting number nine of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency, created pursuant to the order of the House on March 2, 2022, and of the Senate on March 3, 2022.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the order of the House dated November 25, 2021.
I'd like to remind all those present in the room to please follow the recommendations of the public health authorities, as well as the directives of the Board of Internal Economy, to maintain health and safety.
Should any technical or any other challenges arise, please advise me, as we may need to suspend for a few minutes to ensure that all members are able to fully participate.
Witnesses should also be aware that translation is available through the globe icon at the bottom of your screens and, of course, on the microphones in front of you.
We have with us today, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., representatives from the Department of Justice. We have François Daigle, who is the deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada. We have Samantha Maislin Dickson, who is the assistant deputy minister of the public safety, defence and immigration portfolio. We have Jenifer Aitken, who is the acting assistant deputy minister of the central agencies portfolio; and Heather Watts, who is the deputy director general and general counsel for the human rights law section. Welcome.
You will all have five minutes for your opening remarks. We will begin....
Go ahead, Mr. Clerk.