I call the meeting to order. I see a quorum.
Colleagues, after much planning and discussion, we've finally managed to convene a meeting here today on the subject of the stimulus package. This will be a full meeting, intended to outline as best we can, through the officials who are attending today, progress in the unfolding of the stimulus package spending that was outlined in the government's budget.
We've all had lots of time to prepare. In fact, these witnesses have been with us on two or three or four occasions. We thank them for that.
I'll just note for the record that we had discussed the possibility of one or more ministers attending. One or more of those ministers were of the view that it was, from their point of view, premature for them to attend, or not the best of times to attend, in their judgment. The committee is negotiating these things through our clerk, very cordially, and each of the ministers has suggested a later date. We can discuss that later ourselves.
I'm going to ask the witnesses if any of them have an opening statement today on this subject.
Mr. Smith.