Welcome, everyone. It's good to be back here.
I'm a little leery of giving up my chair to the Liberal vice-chair, because since I've been back, he's found this beautiful room for us in Centre Block.
Thank you very much for filling in when I was gone. I appreciate that.
Today, pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, October 30, 2007, we are dealing with Bill C-5, an act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident, whose short title is the Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act.
Today, for the first hour, we have as witnesses, from the Canadian Nuclear Association, Murray Elston, president and chief executive officer, and Pierre Guimond, director, regulatory affairs; from the Nuclear Insurance Association of Canada, Dermot Murphy, manager, and Colleen DeMerchant, assistant manager; and from Walker Sorenson LLP, John Walker, legal counsel.
Each group will be allowed up to ten minutes for their presentation. We will take the witnesses in the order they are on the agenda. It's up to each group to decide who speaks for them.
We will start with the Canadian Nuclear Association. Go ahead, Mr. Elston, please.