I call this meeting to order.
Good afternoon everyone.
Welcome to meeting number 80 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
You're all in luck today to have a member of the Bloc Québécois chairing the meeting.
Pursuant to the House order of June 21, 2023, the committee is meeting to begin its study of Bill C‑321, an act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders).
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. Members participating remotely must use the Zoom application.
I have a few reminders for the benefit of the witnesses and members. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. If you are participating by video conference, please click on the microphone icon to activate your mike and put yourself on mute when you are not speaking.
If you are on Zoom, you can access the interpretation by clicking the button on your screen. You have the choice of floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.
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, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.
The clerk has advised me that the three members on Zoom have successfully completed the sound checks, so Mr. Garrison, Mr. Moore and Mr. Housefather. However, if there are any issues with the audio, please let me know and I will suspend the meeting so we can get them fixed.
I would now like to welcome Mr. Doherty, the member for Cariboo—Prince George and sponsor of Bill C‑321. He will be with us for the first hour of our meeting.
Mr. Doherty, you will have five minutes for opening remarks, and then, we will go to the first round. Each party will have six minutes in the first round. In the second round, the Conservatives and Liberals will have five minutes each, and the Bloc Québécois and NDP will have two and a half minutes each. After that, we will meet with another panel for the second hour.
Mr. Doherty, please go ahead.