I'll call the meeting to order.
We want to thank everyone for coming out to the meeting. We want to thank the minister particularly for his openness in coming to committee whenever requested.
We have before us the supplementary estimates. I want to note for the committee that the minister is going to be with us until 5:15, which is a significant time, or until the questions run out. They may run out before that time; I'm sure that's a possibility. Nonetheless, he has committed that much time to us if we so desire it.
We have Dr. David Butler-Jones, who has been before the committee many times. We want to thank you for being here as well.
I'll let the minister introduce the staff he has with him.
With that, as a bit of housekeeping, we want to let the committee know that when the minister is here we have a little different arrangement with regard to our questioning. We will take note of that and proceed from there.
We will now give the floor to the minister for his presentation, and then we'll proceed to questioning after that time.
Mr. Minister, the floor is yours.