I call this meeting back to order.
Welcome to meeting number 135 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
Pursuant to the order of reference on Monday, March 18, 2024 and motions adopted on Monday, December 11, 2023, the committee is meeting to discuss Bill C‑59, an act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023, and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the Standing Orders. 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 neighbours' microphones are turned on. In order to prevent incidents and safeguard the hearing health of interpreters, I'd like participants to ensure that they speak into the microphone into which their headset is plugged and avoid manipulating the earbuds by placing them on the table away from the microphone when they are not in use.
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, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.
All virtual witnesses for this meeting have been tested, and the clerk has said that everything is okay.
We have here today with us as an individual, Vivek Dehejia, associate professor of economics and philosophy at Carleton University. Also as an individual, we have Stephanie Woo Dearden, registered psychotherapist, who is with us via video conference. From Electricity Canada, we have vice-president of government relations, Michael Powell. Joining Mr. Powell is Derek Smith, vice-president, corporate tax, Emera Inc. That will be through video conference. From EverWind Fuels, we have Trent Vichie, chief executive officer.
On that, we will start with Mr. Dehejia for opening remarks, please.