I now call to order the fourth meeting of this session of the Standing Committee on International Trade for our ongoing review of Bill C-2, an act to implement the free trade agreement between Canada and the states of the European Free Trade Association.
Appearing as witnesses today are Jean-Michel Laurin, vice-president, global business policy, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; David Stewart-Patterson, the executive vice-president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives; and Sam Boutziouvis, vice-president, economics and international trade, at the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
We have been here before. I think everybody knows the procedure. We're going to ask Jean-Michel Laurin to begin with an opening statement of five to ten minutes, followed by Mr. Patterson, after which we will go to rounds of questions. I'll begin first with a seven-minute round by Mr. Cannis and then we'll proceed around the table for the first round. Seeing that we have a little bit of business towards the end of the meeting, I'm going to suggest that we try to wrap up by about 10:45.
If that's all in order, then I'm going ask Monsieur Laurin to proceed.