I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 19 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of January 25. Committee members will therefore participate in person or through the Zoom application. The proceedings will be posted on the House of Commons website. For your information, the webcast will always show the individual speaking rather than the entire committee.
For those participating virtually, I would like to outline a few rules to follow. Members may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available, but please let me know if we have any challenges with interpretation or technology. Please bring that to my attention.
For members participating in person, proceed as you usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room. When speaking, I'll try to follow my own advice to speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, please put your mike on mute.
With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they're participating virtually or in person. Please use the “raise hand” function. That's what the clerks will be using to keep track of whose turn it is to talk next.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4) the committee is meeting today to consider a request received by the clerk and submitted by four members of the committee to discuss their request for additional witnesses for the study on addressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces, including the allegations against the former chief of the defence staff, Jonathan Vance.
We also have a motion from Mr. Garrison, which has been forwarded to all committee members, for consideration.
I will now open the floor to debate.
Mr. Garrison, you can proceed with your motion.