Order, please, members.
This is meeting number 90 of the committee. We're approaching 100. Will we get to 150?
Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, May 9, 2017, our hearing today is about Bill C-44, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures.
We have five witnesses, including Mr. Luke Harford, president of Beer Canada; Mr. Murray Souter, board member, Canadian Vintners Association; Mr. Carl Sparkes, president and CEO of Devonian Coast Wineries; Ms. Joyce Reynolds, executive vice-president, government affairs, Restaurants Canada; and Mr. Jan Westcott, president and CEO of Spirits Canada.
I know that a couple of people went out of their way to change their travel arrangements.
I believe one person was supposed to be in Spain, so we appreciate that effort, Mr. Sparkes, to get here to give your information to the committee.
Try to hold your comments to about five minutes. Then we'll go to questions.
We will start with Mr. Harford.