Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the invitation to be here with you today.
As you know, we're here to discuss our main estimates. Our minister will be joining us shortly. In the meantime, we thought our chief financial officer would take a few minutes to walk you through the main estimates.
I have asked our Chief Financial Officer to present our main estimates and to explain key changes from last year. He will also describe how our spending estimates reflect our priorities.
Also with us are Associate Deputy Minister David Bevan, Deputy Commissioner Jody Thomas from the Canadian Coast Guard, David Balfour, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Siddika Mithani, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Kevin Stringer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Policy. Finally, our Chief Financial Officer Roch Huppé is also joining us.
Mr. Chair, our departmental focus is always on three strategic outcomes: economically prosperous maritime sectors and fisheries, sustainable aquatic ecosystems, and safe and secure waters. Our targeted spending on key programs will continue to support these strategic outcomes and ensure that we create the conditions for our fishing and other maritime industries to generate value for Canadians. In times of restraint we strive to achieve these objectives by streamlining and increasing our efficiency in all areas.
The department, including the Coast Guard, is implementing modernization initiatives as defined in last year's strategic review.
Our department has made important contributions to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We will continue to build on achievements of the past as we look to the future.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not going to take any more time with opening remarks. The minister will have some opening remarks, and I've asked our chief financial officer to walk through the estimates and the changes from last year, if that's agreeable to you.