Colleagues, I'll call this meeting to order.
The normal procedure is that we have opening statements from the ministers appearing before this committee that are normally 10 minutes in length. I have spoken with Minister Anand, and she has agreed to make a somewhat truncated opening statement so that we can get into questions as quickly as possible. I think that's highly appropriate since this is the first time that Minister Anand has appeared before this committee.
Minister, if you care to give your brief opening statement, we'll go into questions immediately upon its completion. The floor is yours.