I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 87 of the Standing Committee on International Trade.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders. Therefore, members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
I need to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members.
Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those online, please mute yourself when you are not speaking. This is a reminder that all comments should be addressed through the chair. If any technical issues arise, please inform me immediately. We will need to suspend in order to ensure interpretation is properly restored before resuming the meeting. I ask all participants to be careful when handling the earpieces, in order to prevent feedback.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the committee is continuing its study on the 2023 strike at the port of Vancouver.
We have, today, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association, Bruce Rodgers, executive director, by video conference; and Julia Kuzeljevich, director, policy and regulatory affairs, by video conference. We have with us the Canadian Meat Council, Lauren Martin, senior director, government relations and policy. Back again, from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, we have Bridgitte Anderson, president and chief executive officer, by video conference. Ms. Anderson will be with us for only the first hour of the meeting.
We also have the Freight Management Association of Canada, Robert Ballantyne, former president and senior adviser. From the Mining Association of British Columbia, Tim McEwan, senior vice-president, corporate affairs, is with us by video conference. Joining us also is Michel Murray, union adviser with the longshoreman union at the port of Montreal, with whom we're still waiting to connect by video conference.
Welcome to you all. We will start with opening remarks and then proceed with rounds of questions.
Mr. Rodgers, I invite you to address the committee for up to five minutes, please.