Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), our study on the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada will commence with our witnesses this afternoon.
On behalf of the human resources committee, I just want to say that we're very grateful that you've taken the time out of your schedules to be here today.
As some of you are aware, we have been going through the study for the last year or year and a half. Sometimes elections and other things get in the way, but we're committed to getting this thing finished off and making some recommendations to the government. That's where you guys come in. We appreciate your being here, not only to give us your perspectives of what's going on here in Edmonton, but maybe to suggest some of the things that work, or some of the things that you think would make sense for us as a government or as a committee to put in that.
We have been east, south, and north, and now we're here. we'll finish off tomorrow in Winnipeg. We started this week off with Monday in Vancouver and we were in Whitehorse and Yellowknife on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As I said, thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here.
I'm going to start with Julian. You're each going to have seven minutes. I'm not going to cut you off if you go over the seven, but if you can try to keep it to the seven, that will be great. If you finish sooner, that's fine too.
I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Daly, who is with Boyle Street Community Services. Welcome. The floor is yours for seven minutes.