Thank you very much, everyone, for that unanimous vote of confidence. I think that's the only time I've been unanimously elected to anything.
We are going to proceed right into the agenda, but at the opening I just want to make a few comments.
I've served on this committee, formally and informally, since I was elected in 2000, and I think this committee, since that time, has had a reputation for being very substantive and hard-working, with members who exchanged views very passionately but always respectfully. This committee has also shown a very good working relationship in terms of tackling some very tough issues, but in doing so, always keeping in mind that we're representing all our people here, in Parliament and in the committee. So I hope we would certainly continue that.
I know many of you working on this committee have sat here for some time, so I look forward to continuing to work with you. To the new members, I look forward to getting to know you and working with you as well.
I would just encourage you, especially the members who have served on this committee before, to mentor those who are new members, but also to reach across party lines and start forming friendships and relationships so that when we do discuss some tough issues and have disagreements, we can always do so respectfully.
I want to congratulate the two vice-chairs, Mr. McTeague and Monsieur CrĂȘte, for their election. I would just remind Mr. McTeague that now that I'm the chair of the committee, it means that at the annual hockey game tonight he has to let me score at least one goal on him--easier said than done.
At this point, perhaps we could have the clerk, Richard Dupuis, explain his role and Alexandre Roger's role.