I'm calling this meeting to order. As you are aware, committee members, we are here to discuss a motion that was passed at this committee on July 22:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), the committee review the safeguards which are in place to avoid and prevent conflicts of interest in federal government procurement, contracting, granting, contribution and other expenditure policies.
As a part of this study, we are hearing from a variety of witnesses, including academics, ministers and others who happen to be experts on this topic.
Here with us today we have Mr. Duff Conacher, who is the co-founder of Democracy Watch.
Mr. Conacher, I'm going to give you 10 minutes for an opening statement, and then we're going to take questions from the members of this committee. You can go ahead.