Good afternoon everyone, and welcome.
This is meeting number 3 of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
Today is Thursday, November 7, 2013.
Today we begin our examination of the subject matter of clauses 176 to 238 (divisions 5 and 6 of part 3) of Bill C-4, A second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures.
Before we begin today's meeting, I would briefly like to point out that Department of Labour officials are not here today to speak to the one clause pertaining to electronic administration of the Canada Labour Code found in division 6. We'll deal with all of the issues in division 6, as you wish, as a committee today, except this one clause. The reason is that we have employment and social development officials here who are prepared to answer any aspect of division 6, except the Canada Labour Code. However, at our next meeting, Labour department officials will be prepared to answer any questions on the one clause contained in division 6.
I would kindly ask that if you had prepared any questions on this topic you hold off your questions until the next meeting.
We are joined today by witnesses from the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada: Alexis Conrad, Atiq Rahman, and Catherine Allison. We're also joined by David Dendooven of the Privy Council Office.
Before we move into our presentations and rounds of questions, I'll point out per the meeting notice that our committee will recess at 5:15. I may take some liberties to recess a bit earlier than that, at 5:10, depending on how the discussions are going and what the committee chooses. Then we'll move into committee business because we have four such items to deal with today.
I know that the witnesses have prepared some remarks to open our discussions on Bill C-4. I believe Alexis is going to be doing the presentation.
We'll go to you, sir.