Good morning, everyone.
We're here today, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), to do a study in the first hour of the unique opportunities and challenges facing the forest products industry.
We have as witness, Cassie Doyle, deputy minister, Department of Natural Resources, and Jim Farrell, assistant deputy minister, Canadian Forest Service. Welcome to both of you.
Ms. Doyle, you will be giving about an eight-minute presentation, I understand.
Before we get to the presentation, I want to read a small section from pages 863 and 864, House of Commons Procedure and Practice:
Particular attention has been paid to the questioning of public servants. The obligation of a witness to answer all questions put by the committee must be balanced against the role that public servants play in providing confidential advice to their Ministers. The role of the public servant has traditionally been viewed in relation to the implementation and administration of government policy, rather than the determination of what that policy should be. Consequently, public servants have been excused from commenting on the policy decisions made by the government. In addition, committees will ordinarily accept the reasons that a public servant gives for declining to answer a specific question or series of questions which involve the giving of a legal opinion, or which may be perceived as a conflict with the witness’ responsibility to the Minister, or which is outside of their own area of responsibility or which might affect business transactions.
I thought I would read that section so members can keep that in mind as we go through the questioning a little later.
Deputy Minister, if you would, go ahead with your presentation, and then we'll get directly to the questions.