I call this meeting to order.
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to meeting 29 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. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.
I'd 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 it to mute when you are finished speaking. Please speak slowly and clearly so that the translators can do their work. For those of you with earbuds, it is important that you bring the microphone close to your mouth when you are speaking.
Please make sure you select the right channel for your intervention. If you are speaking English, please make sure you are on the English channel. If you are speaking French, please make sure you are on the French channel.
As is my normal practice, I will hold up a yellow card when you have 30 seconds left in your intervention and a red card when your time is up.
I would now like to welcome our witnesses, as follows: from the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, Yan Hamel, a member of the board of directors; from the Association Restauration Québec, Martin Vézina, head of communication and public affairs; from the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, Christina Franc, executive director; from Festivals and Major Events Canada, Martin Roy; from the Hotel Association of Canada, Susie Grynol, president and CEO; from Meetings Mean Business Canada, Clark Grue, chair; and from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Charlotte Bell, president and CEO.
Each witness will have five minutes for their presentation, which will be followed by rounds of questions.
With that, our first witness will be the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec.
Mr. Hamel, you have the floor for five minutes.