Good morning, colleagues.
This is meeting number 37 of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
Today we will study the treatment of Canadians abroad by the Government of Canada. Our meetings today and on Thursday are associated with an August meeting in which this issue came to light. At that time, four members of our committee called the committee back from summer vacation and we discussed a couple of issues, all dealing with Canadians abroad.
Today, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, we have Paul Roué, director general in the emergency management bureau; Lillian Thomsen, director general in the consular policy and advocacy bureau; and Patricia Fortier, director general in the consular operations bureau.
Chairing the panel, from the Canada Border Services Agency, we have Geoffrey Leckey, director general of international affairs. My understanding is that all four have opening statements. We look forward to your comments and then our questions to you.
Madam Thomsen.