I call this meeting to order. We are resuming meeting number 126 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the committee is meeting to discuss the statutory review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. Pursuant to Standing Order 15.1, members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
I'd like to make a few comments for the benefit of the members.
Although this room is equipped with a powerful audio system, feedback events can occur. These can be extremely harmful to interpreters and cause serious injuries. The most common cause of sound feedback is an earpiece worn too close to the microphone. We therefore ask all participants to exercise a high degree of caution when handling the earpieces, especially when your microphone or your neighbour's microphone is turned on.
In order to prevent incidents and safeguard the hearing health of the interpreters, I invite participants to ensure they speak into the microphone into which their headset is plugged and to avoid manipulating the earbuds by placing them on the table away from the microphone when they are not in use.
I remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair.
For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.
For this study, the statutory review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, we have with us a number of officials from the Department of Finance. We have the associate assistant deputy minister, Julien Brazeau, with us. We have the director general of the financial crimes and security division, Erin Hunt. Joining Julien and Erin is the director of financial crimes policy, Charlene Davidson.
Welcome to all of you. Thank you for coming on such short notice.
We know that you have some opening remarks prepared for us. You'll do those and then we'll get into members' questions.
Go ahead, Mr. Brazeau.