I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 31 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on February 8, 2022, the committee is meeting on a study of the government's obligations to victims of crime.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. Members are attending in person in the room or remotely using the Zoom application.
I'd like 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 participating by video conference, please click on the microphone icon to activate your mike. Please mute yourself when you're not speaking. For interpretation for those on Zoom, you have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.
This is a reminder that all comments should be addressed through the chair. For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding on this issue.
I usually have cue cards, but I don't have them remotely here, so I will improvise. When I raise a yellow book, that means you have 30 seconds. When I raise a brown folder, that says your time has ended. If you could watch for those cues, or otherwise keep a timer yourself, that would be helpful.
Just as a health and wellness check, before I introduce the witness, I'd like to inform the committee that due to the study on the agenda, some of you may find it difficult to listen to the testimonies presented and/or experience discomfort given the nature of the topic being discussed. I'd like to remind our witnesses, who agreed so kindly to appear in front of the committee either on Zoom or in person, as well as members and staff, that, if needed, resources are available to help here at Parliament. The clerk will certainly help you. You may contact him.
I will allow, if necessary, a little pause for our witnesses in order to deliver their statement in the best environment possible. Our study could certainly be emotionally challenging for our witnesses. We admire their courage to come forward and share those very personal situations. I'm sure our members will agree to that.
I'll now ask our first-hour witnesses to make their opening remarks for five minutes. After that, we will begin our round of questions.
Our first witnesses are Tanya Sharpe and Marie-Hélène Ouellette.
The floor is yours for five minutes.