Welcome back. We're going to get started.
I want to remind everyone to ensure they are in gallery view, so everyone can be seen. To do so, you can click on “view” in the right-hand top corner.
I'd like to make a few comments for the benefit of the new witnesses.
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. I remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair. I also want to remind you that mikes are not going to be controlled automatically, so please put yourself on mute after speaking.
Interpretation in the video conference will work very much like it does in a regular committee meeting. You have the choice at the bottom of your screen of floor, English or French. “Floor” is for those who are fluent in English and French.
When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute.
The use of headsets is strongly encouraged. I'm hopeful you received the authorized headset from the clerk. I see all of you with one. That's great. Thank you for that.
Now I'd like to formally welcome all of our witnesses to today's committee meeting, the first on the prorogation study.
I welcome Professor Daniel Turp, from the Université de Montréal; Professor Philippe Lagassé, from Carleton University; Kathy Brock, professor of policy studies at Queen's University; and Barbara Messamore, professor in the history department at the University of the Fraser Valley.
At the outset, I'd like to apologize, because I know that at least one of the witnesses was sent communications that were only in English. That was definitely an error on our part by our team, and I apologize for that. We will try to do our best to make sure that does not happen again. As I mentioned before, interpretation services are available throughout this meeting, so there should be no problems in the meeting today.
Each of the witnesses will get a five-minute opening statement, and we'll start with Mr. Turp.