Colleagues, I'll call this meeting to order. This is the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
Today we have launched into our study of Bill C-25.
We have the minister with us for the first part of the meeting.
We want to thank you, Minister, for joining us. We're always thankful that you make time to attend our meetings. It seems to be more often than not, so thanks so much for joining us yet again.
We're going to turn it over to you immediately to hear your opening statements. Then we'll follow up with some questions.
For our second witnesses we have representatives from the Federation of Newfoundland Indians. That will be by video conference, colleagues, which is why we're in this room today.
Minister, we'll turn it over to you for your opening statement and then we'll have some questions for you.