Good afternoon, everyone. I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 18 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Pursuant to the order of reference of Saturday, April 11, the committee is meeting for the purpose of receiving evidence concerning matters related to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's meeting is taking place by video conference, and the proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.
I would like to remind members and witnesses to please wait before speaking until I recognize you by name. When you are ready to speak, please unmute your microphone and then return to mute when you are finished. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly so that the translators can do their work. As is my normal practice, I will hold up a yellow card when you have 30 seconds left in your intervention, and I will hold up a red card for when the time for your intervention has expired.
I would like to now welcome our witnesses. From the Council of Canadian Innovators, we have Mr. Jim Balsillie, chair. From General Motors of Canada Limited, we have Mr. David Paterson, vice-president, corporate and environmental affairs. From rom Magna International, we have Mr. Donald Walker, chief executive officer. From Supply Chain Canada, we have Christian Alan Buhagiar, president and chief executive officer; Simona Zar, director, industry affairs and public policy; and Mike Owens, former vice-president, logistics, Nestle Canada. From the Western Canadian Shippers' Coalition, we have David Montpetit, president and chief executive officer.
Each witness will present for five minutes, followed by a round of questions. With that, we will begin with Mr. Balsillie.
You have five minutes. The floor is yours.