We'll start the meeting at about 11:01. We like to start our meetings on time. There might be something going on in the House that's delaying some of the members. It'll just allow the three of us a lot more question time.
We have here a number of witnesses from various departments in the Government of Canada, and we thank you all for being here today.
I'll read the witness list. We allow generally up to 10 minutes for a presentation. I think because we have four different presentations today, we'll ask that you try to shorten it to, say, five to seven minutes. If you do want to take the 10, we would allow that.
We have, first of all, from the Department of Industry, Sara Filbee, the director general, manufacturing industries branch. We have Renée St-Jacques, chief economist and director general, micro-economic policy analysis branch. We have Robert Lamy, the coordinator of economic analysis, micro-economic policy analysis branch.
From the Department of Human Resources and Social Development we have Martin Green, acting director general, program policy planning and analysis. We have Cliff Halliwell, director general, policy research and coordination. We have Eric Parisien, director of the sector council program division.
From the Department of Natural Resources we have Howard Brown, assistant deputy minister of the energy policy sector. We have Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, assistant deputy minister, energy technology and programs sector.
And from the Canadian Tourism Commission, we have Michele McKenzie, the president and chief executive officer.
Thank you all for coming here today.
As you know, we are studying the manufacturing sector--its importance, its challenges, and some of the concerns the sector is facing relating specifically to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar, increased labour costs or labour availability, and energy as a feedstock into the sector. Regulation has been brought up, as well as responding to increased global competition from countries such as China, India, Brazil, etc.
That's the mandate of the committee, our first study. We welcome you all here.
I think we'll start with the Department of Industry's presentation.
Madam St-Jacques.