We'll call to order this meeting of our Standing Committee on Health.
We welcome our witnesses today. We have a plethora of witnesses so we're going to propose that we just have the minister make an opening statement and then go directly to questions.
Does the committee agree that we'll just have an opening statement by the minister?
I guess that's approved.
First of all, I'll introduce our guests, starting with Mr. Michel Perron from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He is vice-president of external affairs and business development.
We have Mr. Paul Glover, president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
From the Department of Health we have deputy minister Simon Kennedy.
From the Public Health Agency of Canada we have Siddika Mithani, president and Theresa Tam, interim chief public health officer.
Finally, we have the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health.
Minister, if you'd like to open with an opening statement.