I was just getting to that.
There are headsets. Unwind them, put them on and change the channel to whatever your preference is. If you're bilingual, you can probably go with “floor”, but English and French are there too. At the bottom, going left and right switches the language preference. The top part is the volume.
Wave if you can't hear or if there's an interpretation problem. Just put up your hand and let us know. We'll immediately stop and it won't take away from your time.
As for interpretation for those on Zoom, they're all members so I don't think I need to repeat that. Use the icon at the bottom to select floor, English or French.
As a reminder, all comments should please be addressed to the chair. For members in the room, if you wish to speak, raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will try to get to you right away.
Before I introduce our witnesses, I would like to inform the committee that due to the study on our agenda, some may find it difficult to listen to the testimonies presented and/or experience discomfort, given the nature of the topic being discussed. I would like to remind our witnesses, who agreed so kindly to appear in front of the committee either in person or via Zoom, and members and staff, that if needed, resources are available to them here in Parliament. The clerk will certainly contact them, and you're more than welcome to ask for them either during or after, if need be.
I will allow, if necessary, a little pause for our witnesses so they can deliver their statements in the best environment possible. Our present study will certainly be emotionally challenging for our witnesses, and we admire their courage in coming forward and sharing their very personal situations. I'm sure that all members agree with that.
I don't like interrupting, so when there are 30 seconds remaining in your statement, I'll raise a 30-second card, and when your time is up, I'll give the time's-up card. They're yellow and red. Then just try to wrap up. I don't want to break your train of thought, but that's how we go. It's the same application for members.
It's five minutes for your opening statement. If you don't get all of your information across in the five minutes, I'm sure some members will allow you to speak to it in their questioning, so feel free to do so then.
Our first three witnesses are Morrell Andrews, Dianne and Mike Ilesic, and Sharlene Bosma.
I will begin with Morrell Andrews, for five minutes.