I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 155 of the Standing Committee on Finance.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. All witnesses have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting.
I'd like to remind participants of the following points. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. All comments should be addressed through the chair. Members, please raise your hand if you wish to speak, whether participating in person or via Zoom. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can.
Pursuant to Standing Order 83.1 and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, September 26, 2024, the committee is resuming its study on the pre-budget consultation in advance of the 2025 budget.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses. With us here today, we have, from B'nai Brith Canada, the director of research and advocacy, Mr. Richard Robertson. From the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for Black and People of Colour Creators, we have Lalita Krishna, co-chair, and Sally Lee, executive director. From the Canadian Labour Congress, D.T. Cochrane, senior economist, is with us. As well, we have, from the Canadian Trucking Alliance, Geoffrey Wood, senior vice-president of policy. From the Climate Emergency Unit, Seth Klein, team lead, is joining us, as well as Bushra Asghar, youth climate corps organizer. From the Réseau FADOQ, we have Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, president, and Philippe Poirier-Monette, special adviser, government relations.
Each of the groups will have up to five minutes. I would like to ask the witnesses to deliver their opening remarks before we proceed to questions from the members.
We will be starting with Mr. Robertson from B'nai Brith, please, for five minutes.