Good afternoon, everyone.
I thank all the witnesses who are joining us today, most virtually.
The meeting is called to order.
Welcome to meeting number 21 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 the competitiveness of 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 believe I saw that some of the honourable members are in the committee room in Ottawa. They are familiar with the current health rules, so I ask that they conduct themselves accordingly.
We are very pleased to have several well-known witnesses with us today. Without further ado, I will introduce them.
We welcome Ms. Vass Bednar, executive director of the master of public policy in digital society program at McMaster University, and Mr. Pierre Larouche, professor of law and innovation with the faculty of law at the Université de Montréal, who will both be appearing as individuals.
We also have Ms. Denise Hearn from the American Economic Liberties Project, who is a senior fellow and co-lead of the access to markets initiative.
We also have Ms. Dana O'Born, vice-president, strategy and advocacy, from the Council of Canadian Innovators. Ms. O'Born will give her presentation last, as she is having technical difficulties that we are attempting to resolve.
Finally, we have Mr. Richard Kurland, lawyer and policy analyst with Lexbase, and Ms. Lauren van den Berg, executive vice-president, government relations at Restaurants Canada.
Thank you all for taking the time to join us on this beautiful Friday afternoon.
Without further ado, we'll start with Vass Bednar, from McMaster University.
The floor is yours.