Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for appearing before our committee. I want to thank you and your officials for working tirelessly over the course of the past month, and for having made changes to certain programs once you heard from various members across the country.
Allow me to start off with the first question that was put to you. There was an attempt by one of the members to perhaps imply that you like the situation we're currently in. I know, given your background and experience, that you certainly appreciate the hardship that businesses are going through, but you don't want to act in a reckless manner. You know it's important that our government collaborate with the provinces and municipalities and that we take the best advice from public health officials.
Unlike what the member was implying, would it be fair to say that you're very much concerned about all the hardships that businesses are going through at this point?