I see a quorum, colleagues. We'll call the meeting to order.
Today we're going to be looking at the supplementary estimates; however, the focus is going to be on stimulus spending, as previously agreed. So for that purpose we have invited as witnesses, and we're very grateful for their attendance in relatively large numbers, individuals from Statistics Canada, who are going to help us with some of the economic theory here. Then we have individuals from the Privy Council Office and the Department of Finance.
I would ask the members to try to keep the questioning focused on the issues of stimulus spending. On the Statistics Canada side it was hoped we would be able to have a look at inputs-outputs from that proposed government stimulus spending. It's up to the members to decide what outputs are desirable, but certainly jobs, employment, would be one.
Then we'll look to both the Privy Council and the Department of Finance to tell us how they propose to get this money out the front door, whether it is business as usual or whether there is some tasking going on to ensure that the apparently urgently needed stimulus spending gets out as soon as it can.
I'm going to invite Statistics Canada to present first, and I will introduce Karen Wilson, the assistant chief statistician, national accounts and analytical studies, and Michel Girard, director, industry accounts division.
Ms. Wilson.