I'll call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 13 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. The committee meeting today will be from 3:34 your time, until 5:34 your time. We will hear witnesses as part of the committee's study of the Nuctech security equipment contract, and then discuss committee business in camera at the end of the meeting.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow.
Interpretation in this video conference will work very much like in a regular committee meeting. You have the choice at the bottom of your screen to use either floor, English or French, for those who are here virtually. We would ask that you choose the language you are going to speak in when you do so.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. When you are ready to speak, you can click on the microphone icon to activate your mike. When you are not speaking, we ask that your mike be muted.
To raise a point of order during the meeting, committee members should ensure their microphone is unmuted and say “point of order” to get the chair's attention.
In order to ensure social distancing in the committee room, if you need to speak privately with the clerk or analyst during the meeting, please email them through the committee email address. For those people who are participating in the committee room, please note that masks are required unless seated and when physical distancing is not possible.
I understand we have some opening statements from our witnesses today. I appreciate that. They will be provided five minutes.
Right now, I will invite the Council of Canadian Innovators to make their opening statement.