We're a few minutes behind. We're going to open the meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade, meeting number 18 of this session.
We are continuing our discussion of Bill C-2, an act to implement the free trade agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the agreement on the environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, and the agreement on labour cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia.
As has been our practice for almost two years now, we're hearing witnesses on this subject. Today we will continue that practice and process with four witnesses from a long distance away.
I'm going to introduce the witnesses, we'll have a brief comment from them—hopefully opening statements that will assuredly be under ten minutes each—and then we'll proceed to questions. Let me start by introducing our witnesses.
With us here in Ottawa we have Steven Shrybman, who is a partner with Sack, Goldblatt and Mitchell, who has appeared before the committee before. Welcome back, Mr. Shrybman.
We have from Coventry, England, from the University of Warwick, James Harrison, who's an associate professor at the Warwick School of Law. Welcome, Professor Harrison.
Visiting us from Vancouver via video conference, as an individual, is Dawn Paley, a journalist. Welcome, Ms. Paley.
As well, via video conference from New York, we have Nazih Richani, who is also a professor. I'm sorry that I don't know where you're instructing these days, so before you begin your allotted ten minutes for statements, perhaps you could do a brief further introduction.
Again, the format is that I'm going to ask each of you for an opening statement, followed by questions. I hope we can keep these opening presentations under ten minutes so that we have ample time for the committee to ask questions.
I have an indication here that our guest with us in Ottawa would like to speak last, so I'm going to start with Mr. Harrison, from Coventry, England, who is coming to us via video conference.
Professor Harrison.