Good afternoon. This is the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration meeting number 22.
Today we are starting to study Bill C-24, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2). Bill C-24 is an act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
To help us with the start of our study, we have the Honourable Chris Alexander, who is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
We have with us the usual people who help us out with many things: Robert Orr, the assistant deputy minister of operations; Catrina Tapley, the associate assistant deputy minister of strategic and program policy; Nicole Gerard, the director general of the citizenship and multiculturalism branch; and Mory Afshar, a lawyer.
It's good to have you. Thank you and welcome to the committee.
Minister, thank you for coming. You have the usual 10 minutes to make your presentation, and then the committee will have some questions for you. Thank you, sir.