Bonjour, chers collègues. Welcome.
This is meeting 21 of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
This afternoon we will be reviewing our main estimates for 2009-10, and we're very pleased to have appearing before us today the Honourable Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation. Accompanying the minister we have, from the Canadian International Development Agency, Ms. Margaret Biggs, president, and Christine Walker, chief financial officer.
We thank the minister for working with our committee and the clerk to make this appearance possible.
I should also indicate at this time that we have a number of ambassadors from different African countries here with us this afternoon. We certainly do look forward to having them appear in the second hour as part of our study on the key elements of Canadian foreign policy dealing with Africa.
Before we move to the minister, I've asked the committee's indulgence and cooperation in moving into committee business just for a moment in order to pass the steering committee report. We should have perhaps done this last Monday, but this allows the clerk to make the necessary arrangements to fill the schedule for the upcoming week and it also just lets you know that your subcommittee has been meeting.
So you've had a chance to look at this.
Mr. Dewar.