I call the meeting to order.
Colleagues, we're pursuing today an issue that I know the committee has followed closely in the past. A number of members would like to look at the issue a bit more closely. It pertains to expenditure review and corporate assets management. Those two items are separate in the views of many public officials, but some in the committee view them as related.
Today we have Alister Smith, assistant secretary, expenditure management sector, back again from Treasury Board to assist us in clarifying the issues. Thank you again for being here. Joining him are Shirley Jen, senior director of real property and material policy division, and Bob Hirst, executive director, assets and acquired services, government operations sector. From the Department of Finance, which has a window on this set of policies, we have Richard Botham, director. He has a very long title, which includes the words “microeconomic policy”. I'm going to pause there, but thank you all for coming. I know that at least one of you will have an opening statement.
First on the list is Treasury Board, so if it's appropriate to your needs, Mr. Smith, you could lead off.