I call this meeting to order.
Welcome, everyone, to meeting number 29 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. The committee is meeting today to study the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to welcome the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
I'd also like to welcome senior officials joining us today. From the Department of Health, we have Dr. Stephen Lucas, deputy minister. From the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, we have Dr. Michael Strong, president. From the Department of Public Works and Government Services, we have Mr. Bill Matthews, deputy minister; and Mr. Michael Vandergrift, associate deputy minister. From the Public Health Agency of Canada, we have Mr. Iain Stewart, president; Major-General Dany Fortin, vice-president, vaccine rollout task force, logistics and operations; Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer; and Dr. Matthew Tunis, executive secretary for the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
We will start with witness statements. I will invite Minister Hajdu to begin. Minister Hajdu, please go ahead, for seven minutes.