Let's move on to our business today.
We thank the witnesses for coming. This committee is very excited to be embarking upon this study of how Canada can contribute to a poverty reduction strategy. It's something we've been working on for some time. It's exciting today to be hearing witnesses, and you are the first ones.
I'm Mike Savage. I'm filling in for our chair, Dean Allison, who's on parliamentary business and couldn't be with us. That's why you see the strange face in the chair--not a strange face, but an unusual face, and maybe strange too.
We're very excited to have you with us. You're the first people to take part in what we hope will be a very historic study. We have three witnesses, and I believe we've agreed that we're going to start with the department.
We have with us Frank Fedyk, associate assistant deputy minister, strategic policy and research; Shawn Tupper, director general, social policy development; and Doug Murphy, assistant director, economic security policy.
Gentlemen, we'll ask you to take it away. You have 10 minutes, and we look forward to what you have to say.