I'll call our meeting to order. This is meeting number 15 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. We're continuing our study on Great Lakes water quality. I remind members of the scope of the committee, which is outlined in the first page of the Library of Parliament briefing notes.
Today we have witnesses from the Government of Ontario: Mr. Maurice Bitran, assistant deputy minister, and Mr. Brian Nixon, director, Ministry of the Environment, with Mr. Jim Richardson, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. We also have with us, from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, Mr. Ian Wilcox.
We're going to proceed first with the Government of Ontario for a 10-minute opening statement.
Mr. Bitran, proceed, please.
We'll have a series of questions following both presentations.