Order, please.
This is the 57th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance. Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, October 7, 2009, we have before us Bill C-51, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009, and to implement other measures.
We have a two-hour session today. For the first hour we have the Honourable Jim Flaherty, the Minister of Finance, and for the second hour we have officials from the Department of Finance.
Minister, we have time for an opening statement. I believe you have up to 15 minutes, and then we'll have questions from members.
Thank you for being with us here today. You may begin your opening statement at any time.