Welcome to our witnesses.
I'll invite any of our members, witnesses, or guests today to turn off their cell phones or put them on some silent capacity.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is mandated by the House of Commons on an annual basis to consider and make reports upon proposals regarding the budgetary policies of the government.
This year the theme of our consultations is Canada's place in a competitive world. As Canada's future is in part characterized by rapid technological change and the emergence of new trading partners, the committee is looking to receive from Canadians their views respecting the means of ensuring a prosperous economy by adopting the latest technology, having the necessary skills, seizing market opportunities, and making certain that tax regimes are enabling us to attract workers and foreign investments in order to maximize our potential as a nation.
The Committee will hold hearings in Ottawa and will travel to other centres across Canada, from Whitehorse, Yukon to St. John's, Newfoundland. It will hear from more than 400 witnesses between now and the end of October. It will gather testimony from a broad range of groups and citizens, from daycare promotion associations to the manufacturers and exporters of Canada.
We welcome you here today. We thank you for the briefs you've submitted. I assure you that those committee members not present immediately will be here forthwith. They do review your briefs in detail, and also the testimony and the presentations you make and the questions we share responses with later on.
You have been asked to keep your presentations to just five minutes. I hope you understand the format. It's difficult for us to give you the time we would like to give you, but we will be hearing from over 400 groups and presenters, and so the five minutes is by way of an introductory commentary.
If you care to look during your presentation, I will give you a little hand signal that there's about a minute to go or a little less, and at that point in time I'd ask you to wind up your presentations to allow time for questions and comment thereafter.
We welcome you all, and thank you again.
We'll begin with the Writers' Union of Canada, Deborah Windsor, executive director. You have five minutes, Madam.