Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here once again.
My first question is for Mr. Smith and it concerns the portfolio of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
If I correctly understood, you are seeking supplementary estimates totalling $149,541,000. That's one of the two budget items for which you are requesting an additional amount. If I have correctly understood, that first amount would be used to write off the debt of some 62,000 students who haven't repaid their student loans. These are loans that are granted to students. First, I would like to know whether writing off the debts of postsecondary students is normal and whether it occurs every year. This means that all of Canada, including Quebec, will be using taxpayers' taxes to write off the debts of those 62,000 students who have a right to vote. I'd like to hear what you have to say on that point.