Good afternoon, everyone.
I want to thank my fellow MPs for joining us today.
I also thank the witnesses who are joining us virtually.
Welcome to meeting No. 18 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Friday, April 8, 2022, the committee is meeting to study Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House Order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. I think the vast majority of us are participating in person, with the exception of Mr. Fillmore and Mr. Masse—hello, gentlemen. Those who are here in Ottawa are familiar with the health rules in force, so I expect they will conduct themselves accordingly.
Without further delay, I will introduce the witnesses we have with us for the first hour.
First, we welcome two representatives of the Department of Employment and Social Development: Chris Bates, Director General, Apprenticeship and Sectoral Initiatives Directorate, and Helen Smiley, Director General, Strategic Integration and Corporate Affairs Directorate.
We also welcome representatives of the Department of Industry: Sheryl Groeneweg, Director General, Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Strategy Branch; Etienne-René Massie, Director General, Small Business Branch; and Martin Simard, Senior Director, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Policy, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch.
I want to thank all of you for what you do as members of the public service.
Thanks also for participating in this exercise today at this parliamentary committee.
Without further delay, I am going to turn the floor over to Mr. Bates or Ms. Smiley, from the Department of Employment and Social Development.