We're going to begin.
I'm going to introduce our next guest and witness. I was hoping we might have the European Economic and Social Committee arrive early so we could put them together, at Mr. Julian's suggestion, which I think was a very good one, but we're not able to do that, as they're not here. So as soon as they get here we'll have them sit in and we'll carry on. If Mr. Langrish doesn't mind staying until 5:30, we'll have you join them as well.
Before we start, and maybe to give them another minute to get here, I just want to say to the committee members that in the last round Mr. Holder brought up the question of briefing books. Just for your information, I hope we have them here for you on Wednesday.
I should also say, with regard to the visit to the European Parliament, your tickets will be e-mailed. They're electronic tickets, so they'll all be sent to your offices directly, to your parliamentary accounts. And per diems will be direct-deposited to your accounts if that's the way you get your paycheque. If there are any questions about that, please feel free to give me a call or ask the clerk, but I think it's all been taken care of. I hope to have everything completed by Thursday in that regard. You should have tickets, per diems, and briefing books by Thursday.
Let us proceed with our next witness.
Jason Langrish is the executive director of the Canada Europe Roundtable for Business. I'm going to ask Mr. Langrish to give us a brief opening statement and then we'll get into questions. In the event the representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee arrive, we'll ask them to sit in right away, because we are short of time today.
Mr. Langrish, would you please give us opening background?
Thank you.