We'll call this meeting to order, the 31st meeting of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
We are beginning today our study pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), a study of Canadian science and technology. It's very exciting. All members of the committee are looking forward to it, and I know that many Canadians across this country have written to me and to the clerk and are looking forward to this study.
We have with us today two officials from Industry Canada.
We have, first of all, someone who's been here many times. We have the deputy minister, Mr. Richard Dicerni. Welcome, Mr. Dicerni.
And we have the director general of the Portfolio and Coordination Branch. We have Mr. Iain Stewart, who's an expert on science and technology within the department.
Mr. Dicerni, are you starting with the opening statement? I'll give two minutes between the two of you, if that's okay.