I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 43 of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
We are gathered today on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe nation.
Before we begin, the clerk has brought to my attention that the deadline for amendments on Bill S-219, which was originally at 5 p.m. tomorrow night, has been moved to noon tomorrow, so that we give staff enough time to prepare any amendment package for clause-by-clause consideration on December 5.
Is there consent to change the deadline? I'm not seeing any objections. I will officially say that the deadline for amendments is noon tomorrow for Bill S-219.
Secondly, the witness lists for the study on indigenous languages, which is the next study that we will be undertaking, should be provided to the clerk by next Tuesday at noon, so that witnesses can be contacted for appearances. The first one will be on Monday, December 12.
I would now like to welcome the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Patty Hajdu. She is accompanied by the following people: Ms. Gina Wilson, deputy minister; Ms. Valerie Gideon, associate deputy minister; Ms. Joanne Wilkinson, senior assistant deputy minister, Regional Operations Sector; and Ms. Kenza El Bied, director general, Sector Operations Branch, Regional Operations Sector.
As usual, to ensure an orderly meeting, I'd like to outline a few rules for all of us to follow.
Members or witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services in English and French, and in the second hour in Inuktitut, are available for today's meeting. Please be patient with the interpretation. You all know it takes a bit of time.
For those in the video conference, the interpretation button is at the bottom of your screen. You can listen in English, French or, in the second hour, Inuktitut, if you so choose. If interpretation is lost, please inform me immediately, and we will ensure interpretation is properly re-established before we continue.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name, and if you're in the video conference, please click on your microphone icon to unmute yourself. Very importantly here, when you're speaking, please speak slowly and clearly for the benefit of the interpreters. I'll also remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair.
The minister has been invited to make an opening statement, which we will then follow up with questions from the members of the committee. The minister will be with us for the first hour, and her officials will be with us for the full two hours.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. Your testimony will help inform our study into Arctic sovereignty, security, and the emergency preparedness of indigenous peoples.
Without further ado, Madam Minister, the floor is yours.