Resuming the meeting.
We are here to continue our study of the factors leading to the recent fires in Jasper National Park.
If you are online and you do not have the floor, we ask that you put your microphone on mute. If you are here in the room—I say this mainly for the witnesses because all of the members are aware of it—be careful not to be too close to the mike when you're speaking and not to touch the boom. If you want to remove your earpiece, I would ask you to please put it on the round sticker in front of you. We are doing all of this so as not to hurt the interpreters, out of respect for them.
Without further ado, we will welcome our first panel. With us are Mike Flannigan, BC Innovation research chair, predictive services, emergency management and fire science, and Christian Messier, professor of forest ecology, who are both appearing as individuals.
From Arctic Fire Safety Services Limited, we have president and Canadian registered safety professional Kristopher Liivam, and from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, we have Elizabeth Potter, president and chief executive officer.
Each witness will get five minutes for an opening statement. We'll start with Mr. Flannigan, who's online, I believe.
Mr. Flannigan, go ahead. You have five minutes.
Your mic seems to be on, so that's no problem. Could you say a few words?
Can you hear me? Give me a thumbs up if you can hear me.
No.
Let's go to Mr. Christian Messier, then.
Dr. Christian Messier, professor of forestry ecology, the floor is yours for five minutes.