Welcome, Ms. Davies.
Welcome to meeting number 35 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Today's meeting is again taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. Therefore, members are attending in person and remotely, using the Zoom application.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of witnesses and members.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. For those participating virtually, please use the “raise hand” function. Before speaking, click on the microphone icon to activate your own mike. When you have finished speaking, please put your mike on mute to minimize interference.
For those in the room, if you wish to speak, please get my attention by raising your hand. The microphone will be controlled by the proceedings and verification officer. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order with those who raise their hand when they go through.
You may speak in the official language of your choice. I would ask you to get my attention if translation services fail. We'll suspend while they're corrected. I would also ask members and witnesses to speak slowly for the benefit of the translators, so that they can provide an adequate interpretation. Should any technical challenges arise, please advise me and we will suspend for a few minutes.
I will remind those attending in person and virtually that screenshots of the committee's proceedings are not allowed.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 3, 2022, the committee will resume its study of supporting Black Canadian communities initiatives.
I would like to welcome our witnesses for the first hour. We'll begin our discussion with five minutes of opening remarks, followed by questions. We have the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities and amanuel melles; Groupe 3737 and Louis-Edgar Jean-François, chief executive officer; and the Black Business Initiative and Rustum Southwell, chief executive officer.
We will begin with Mr. melles for five minutes.
I will advise the witnesses, as well as members, that when your time is getting short, I will simply say, “10 seconds”, and I will ask you to conclude your remarks.
Mr. melles, you have the floor.