As we have quorum, I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 19 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. To ensure an orderly meeting, I'll go over a couple of rules to follow. For all members and witnesses, please note that there is interpretation at the bottom of your screen on Zoom. Just select the language you would like to listen to, whether English, French or the floor, in order to ensure that you can hear what everybody is saying.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you're on the video conference, as all of you are, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself before you start speaking. When you are done speaking, please make sure you're on mute.
As a reminder to all members, all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair to ensure an orderly meeting.
With regard to the speakers list, Mr. Clerk and I will do our best to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members and witnesses, whether they're participating virtually or in person.
Before we start our meeting, there are two points I'd like to raise. First, I would like to get the committee’s approval for the operational budget that was distributed to all members yesterday. The budget is in the amount of $2,875. It will serve to pay for the expenses for our current study.
Do I have everybody’s approval?
I do see a thumbs-up from everybody. Okay. It is so approved.
Thank you very much, everybody.
The second thing is a reminder about your witness submissions for the upcoming study on the impact of COVID-19 on the justice system. Your witness lists are due today. Please ensure that you get your witness lists in to the clerk and me by the end of the day today. Thanks, everyone.
At this point, I'd like to welcome our witnesses. We have three witnesses today. We have the Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale, represented by Gaëlle Fedida and Maud Pontel; Québec contre les violences sexuelles, represented by Mélanie Lemay and Simon Lapierre; and the Women's Legal Education & Action Fund, represented by Megan Stephens.
We'll start with Gaëlle Fedida and Maud Pontel.
You have five minutes to make your submission. Please go ahead.