Ladies and gentlemen, we're about to begin and resume the Standing Committee on International Trade. This is meeting number 28 of this session.
Today we are going to deal with two matters. First of all, we're going to continue our reference for Bill C-8, an act to implement the free trade agreement between Canada and the Kingdom of Jordan.
To that end, we are pleased to have with us witnesses today from the National Labor Committee, from the United Steelworkers, and from the Forest Products Association of Canada. I'm going to start by introducing them. We will have just about an hour for our witnesses and then I believe we're going to go in camera for committee business in about an hour from now.
With that, let me first introduce Charles Kernaghan. Mr. Kernaghan is the executive director of the National Labor Committee. He's joined by Tim Waters. Tim, of course, is the political director of the United Steelworkers. Joining the committee again, we also have with us Andrew Casey, who is the vice-president of public affairs and international trade for the Forest Products Association of Canada.
We're going to ask our witnesses to give us a little perspective on where they're coming from and what their views are on this potential Canada-Jordan free trade agreement, with its accompanying labour agreement and an agricultural agreement as well.
It's the usual format. I'm going to ask Mr. Kernaghan to start. He will be followed by Mr. Waters and then Mr. Casey. They'll give up to 10 minutes each of discussion and then I'll open it to questions.
Without further ado, Mr. Kernaghan, would you begin?