I call the meeting to order.
Today is meeting number 48 of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. It's Wednesday, November 19, 2009, and I note that today's meeting with the minister is being televised.
You have before you the agenda for today. First, we have the Honourable Rob Nicholson with us to open our review of Bill C-52. During the second hour, we have with us Shirish P. Chotalia, the government's order-in-council appointee as chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
At the end of today's meeting we'll leave a little time for an in camera meeting to discuss adoption of a steering committee report for our work plan going forward.
Once again, a reminder to turn off your BlackBerrys or switch them to vibrate, and if you do have to take calls, please take them outside of this room. Thank you.
By order of reference, we are now considering Bill C-52, an act to amend the Criminal Code on sentencing for fraud. To help us with our review of this bill, we have with us the Honourable Rob Nicholson.
Welcome back, Minister. I understand you have some support with you: Catherine Kane--welcome back--as well as Joanne Klineberg.
Minister, you have ten minutes for presentation, and then we'll open the floor to questions.