Welcome, everybody. I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 156 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.
Today we're on the study of the changes to capital gains and corresponding measures announced in budget 2025.
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 consultations in advance of the 2025 budget.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses.
From the Association québécoise de l'industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo, we have the director of public affairs with us, Simon Claus. Also joining Simon Claus is the executive director, Eve Paré. We also have with us, from Basic Income Canada Network, Sidney Frankel, senior scholar and Sheila Regehr, chairperson. From the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, we have François Bélanger, union adviser, and Yvan Duceppe, treasurer. From the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, we have Patricia Tessier, who is the acting executive director.
We thank you, Patricia, for joining us. I know it was really last minute, and you were able to make it work. Thank you so much; we appreciate that.
From the Council of Canadian Innovators, Benjamin Bergen, president, is with us as well as Nicholas Schiavo, the director of federal affairs. We also have, from the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation, Jeffrey Cyr, president and chief executive officer, although we are having some challenges because the headset is not the appropriate one, as you know, members.
What we'd ask is that, for any questions that go to president Jeffrey Cyr from the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation, you pose those questions, and the responses will be sent to us in writing. We wish that Jeffrey Cyr had the right headset. I know sometimes it's difficult in terms of the logistics of getting these headsets to our witnesses.
On that, we are going to hear from our witnesses for up to five minutes for their opening remarks.
Ms. Regehr, were you saying that you're having some trouble?