Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), our study of the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada will commence.
I just want to take a second to thank the witnesses for being here today. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedules to not only offer up some things that you guys are doing on the ground, but also some recommendations for us as a committee to take back to the government. I think you probably know we've been across the country doing this, and some of the other MPs may talk about that. We've been north and west and east and south, so we're just wrapping up what we've been doing over the last year to two years.
Just as a housekeeping note in terms of the devices here, Mr. Lessard will be asking his questions in French, so I'll give you a chance to put on your headsets before that happens.
I'm going to start, John, with you, if you'd like. We'll give you the floor for seven minutes, and then we'll see Bill, and then we'll go around the room and ask some questions.
John, welcome, and the floor is yours, sir.