I call this meeting to order.
I see that it's after 3:30 p.m. I see that our witnesses are in place. I see that we have quorum.
We thank the minister for appearing. The minister and her colleagues are appearing pursuant to a motion adopted by this committee, which reads in part:
That the Standing Committee on National Defence invite the Minister of National Defence...to appear as soon as possible [along with various other named people in the Defence Department] and all other relevant officials from the Canadian Armed Forces [to] appear within the next week, to provide a briefing of no fewer than two hours concerning the high-altitude surveillance balloon from the People's Republic of China that recently violated Canadian airspace, and that the briefing be held in public.
With that, I call upon the minister for her opening statement. Then, we will proceed to questions.
Thank you, Minister, and welcome.