Good morning, everybody, and thank you for being here.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, June 13, 2016, the committee is resuming its study of poverty reduction strategies, focusing today specifically on housing and neighbourhoods here in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
I'm very pleased to welcome a very full panel here. From the City of Medicine Hat, we have Celina Symmonds, city councillor, and I believe Mayor Ted Clugston is here as well. From Immigrant Access Fund Canada, we have Vanessa Desa, vice-chair of the board of directors, and Dianne Fehr, the executive director.
From Medicine Hat College, we have, from the executive office, Denise Henning, president and chief executive officer, and Kristen Desjarlais-deKlerk, instructor of sociology, in the division of arts, education and business. From the Miywasin Friendship Centre, we have Jeannette Hansen, executive director.
Welcome, everybody. We have a full slate and we'll get right to it. I know everybody has opening remarks. We'll try to keep them as close to seven minutes as possible. We're going to start with Celina.
The next seven minutes are yours.