I call to order the 36th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance.
Our orders today, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), are a study of expenditure plans for the fiscal year 2009-10.
We're honoured here today to have the Honourable Jim Flaherty, the Minister of Finance. Welcome, Minister, to the committee. We're glad to have you back. We understand you have a PowerPoint presentation for about a 10-minute opening statement and then we'll go to questions from members.
Colleagues, we'll go for 45 minutes, because we have four motions, and I would like to get at least two of the motions through today.
Minister, please begin your remarks.