I call the meeting to order. I apologize for taking so long. There were a few challenges.
Welcome to meeting number four of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. Today we'll receive a briefing from the procurement ombudsman.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person.
I will take this opportunity to remind all participants in this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, the following is recommended for all those attending the meeting in person.
Anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom and not attend the meeting in person. Everyone must maintain two-metre physical distancing, whether seated or standing. Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in the room.
Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as the desk, chair and microphone with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking a seat.
As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank members in advance for their co-operation.
Just to touch on a bit of committee business before we start, I wish to speak to members about the meeting of the committee taking place next Tuesday, February 15, 2022. We had planned on starting our study on air defence procurement. However, we will not have had time to contact witnesses after the members' witness suggestions are submitted on Friday, February 11.
The analysts have noted that the Office of the Auditor General has written reports relevant to the committee's study of air defence procurement and the national shipbuilding strategy. To ensure that we have witnesses present for next Tuesday, I instructed the clerk to contact the Auditor General's office. They have responded by saying that the Auditor General is interested in appearing but not available. However, representatives of the Auditor General's office can appear on Tuesday, February 15, to discuss their reports related to the committee's studies of the air defence procurement and the national shipbuilding strategy. Just so you're aware, many of those officials were involved quite extensively before this, a couple of years ago, so they can provide information.
If anyone has any questions about this, please contact me or the clerk.
I will now invite the procurement ombudsman to make his opening statement, recognizing that he doesn't have a microphone. We do have two hours, so I will ask you to speak slowly so that the interpreters can get your message out and not have challenges in doing that.
That said, I turn the floor over to you, sir.