I want to welcome everyone back after their parliamentary break.
We are continuing with our study of the service sector here in Canada. This is the 14th meeting of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), we are doing a review of Canada's service sector.
We have with us today five organizations. From the first organization, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, we have the executive vice-president, Mr. David Stewart-Patterson, and the vice-president of economics and international trade, Mr. Sam Boutziouvis.
The second organization is the Canadian Co-operative Association. We have the executive director, Ms. Carol Hunter, and we have the director of government affairs and public policy, Mr. John Anderson.
The third organization we have is the Canadian Services Coalition. We have the Honourable Sergio Marchi, the chair. Welcome.
The fourth organization is the Conseil canadien de la coopération. We have Madame Brigitte Gagné, the executive director.
Last, from the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, we have the vice-president, Mr. Michael Comstock.
Because of the number of witnesses we have today, we are limiting the opening statements to five minutes from each organization. We'll go in the order in which I have outlined them, so we will start with Mr. Stewart-Patterson.
You can start with your presentation. You have up to five minutes.