I will call to order meeting number 37 of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
Before we begin and introduce our witnesses, I would ask the committee to take a look at the budget before you. We need a motion to move and adopt that budget.
Could I have a motion?
Madame Folco moves adoption. Thank you.
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
We're very pleased today to have with us witnesses who are helping us with our study on adoption: the federal supports that are in place and that may need to be in place for adoptive parents.
We have with us today a representative from the Adoption Council of Ontario, Pat Convery, the executive director. As well, we have a representative from the New Brunswick Office of the Ombudsman, Child and Youth Advocate, François Levert, senior investigator and legal officer.
For the information of the committee, because we have committee business at the end of our second hour, I will cut this first hour a bit shorter so we can give first- and second-hour witnesses equal amounts of time. We have three witnesses for the second hour. We will probably end this first hour at about 25 or 20 to the hour.
Again, thank you so much for being here. Each one of you has approximately seven minutes. Then we'll have questions when you're finished your presentation.
We'll begin now with Monsieur Levert, s'il vous plaît.