I call the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to order.
It's Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Our agenda is before all the committee members, I believe, as well as the witnesses. It is a continuing study on the judicial appointment process.
I would like to thank you all for being here this morning as witnesses appearing before the committee. We have, from the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, Mr. Marc Giroux, acting commissioner; and from the Department of Justice, Judith Bellis, general counsel. As individuals, we have Mr. Sébastien Grammond, a professor at the University of Ottawa, who is not here yet, but I assume that he is on his way; and Mr. Peter Russell, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto. From the Canadian Bar Association, we have J. Parker MacCarthy, president; and Ms. Kerri Froc, legal policy analyst.
I would suggest that we follow the order as noted here on the agenda as far as the speaking order is concerned. I will turn the floor over to Mr. Marc Giroux.