Maxime Bernier at the National Defence Committee

Good afternoon. I call the 15^th meeting of the Standing Committee on National Defence to order.

We have with us two witnesses who will talk about Canadian Arctic sovereignty, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, February 23, 2009. We are continuing, in your company, our study of Arctic sovereignty.

I would like to thank Suzanne Lalonde, professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Montreal, and, as an individual, Colonel Pierre Leblanc (retired) of the Canadian Forces Northern Area for being here today.

Mr. Leblanc, you have seven minutes.