Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome back.
After a hard-working week in the ridings, we're all pleased to be back here to start our first study of the session. As everyone knows, we're going to be talking about the forest industry.
To kick us off, we have officials from the Department of Natural Resources, whom I spoke to before the meeting started. I told them they have to set the tone for the whole meeting, so they're feeling a great deal of pressure.
We have Beth MacNeil, assistant deputy minister from the Canadian Forest Service, and Jeff Waring, director general of the economics and industry branch at the Canadian Forest Service. Thank you both for coming.
There's no need to explain to you how committees work because you know full well. I will remind everyone that we are televised today, so be on your best behaviour.
With that, I'll turn the floor over to you, Ms. MacNeil. I believe you're going to start us off.