I call this meeting to order.
Everybody seems in very good spirits this morning. That's nice to see. It's nice to see that collegiality.
Let me start by acknowledging that we are meeting on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe nation.
This is meeting 12 of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the Standing Orders. I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of our witnesses who are online today. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mic, and please mute yourself when you are not speaking. Also, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel for interpretation: floor, English or French. Do be mindful of our interpreters and their ears. Don't speak too quickly, and keep foreign objects away from your microphones.
Before we dive in, some time ago you requested that the minister come to see us. I know that the minister wants to honour that request. We're working on a time for him to come to talk to you about his mandate and the supplementary estimates. We're thinking either the week after the constituency week or the week after that. We're going to work with his schedule. As you know, the tradition is an hour with the minister and officials and then an hour with the officials alone. That's to let you know that we're trying to tee that up for you and honour the request the committee made some time ago.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on Thursday, September 18, the committee resumes its study of the forestry industry.
I would like to welcome our witnesses on the first panel. They are all on Zoom today.
We have, from the British Columbia Council of Forest Industries, Kim Haakstad, president and CEO. From the Canada Wood Group, we have Bruce St.John, president; and, from the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia, we have Andrew Rielly, the board chair.
To our witnesses, you will each have five minutes or less. Please do your best to stick to the time.
Ms. Haakstad, you have the floor for five minutes.