Thank you, Ms. Gray.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. Members are appearing in person in the committee room and joining us virtually on the screen.
Please direct all questions or comments through me, the chair, and please wait until I recognize you before speaking.
You may speak in the official language of your choice. In the room, interpretation is available using the microphone in front of you. For those appearing virtually, click on the globe icon at the bottom of your screen and choose the official language of your choice.
If there is any interruption in the translation, please get my attention. You can use the “raise hand” function online. If you're in the room, you can get my attention. We'll suspend while it is being corrected.
This meeting is taking place pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, February 12, 2024. The committee is commencing a study of federal housing investments.
Before I welcome the witnesses, I want to point out that we were late starting. We may be interrupted again, but we have the resources to conduct a full two-hour meeting, which is my intention. I've had a request for the first hour to be extended to an hour and 15 minutes, which I have agreed to, unless there is a strenuous objection from the committee.
We will then suspend while we transition to begin our review of version one of the volunteerism report.
Today, we have with us in the room, Kevin Lee, chief executive officer of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.
By video conference, we have Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario, and from the Royal Bank of Canada, we have Robert Hogue, assistant chief economist.
Witnesses, we were delayed because of votes in the chamber, but we will be proceeding with a full meeting.
We will begin with Mr. Lee.
You have up to five minutes for an opening comment, if you choose to make one.