Good afternoon.
Welcome to meeting number 24 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 Thursday, November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the members attending in person as well as the witnesses. You are familiar with the public health rules in effect, so I would ask that you please follow them.
We have quite a substantial group of witnesses today. Thank you all for appearing before the committee. Some witnesses are appearing in person in the room and others are appearing via Zoom.
As an individual, we have Edward Iacobucci, professor and Toronto Stock Exchange chair in capital markets in the faculty of law at the University of Toronto. Also with us is Kevin Lee, chief executive officer of the Canadian Home Builders' Association; Anne Kothawala, president and chief executive officer of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada; Tony Bonen, acting executive director of the Labour Market Information Council; Eleonore Hamm, president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada; and Patrick Perreault, chief executive officer of Table Métal Abitibi-Ouest. Good afternoon everyone and thank you for being here.
Without further ado, we will proceed with the opening remarks. Each organization will have five minutes.
Starting things off will be Mr. Iacobucci for five minutes.