Good morning everyone. There is a freshness in the air, a little hint of spring in the committee this morning.
I would like to call to order this 13th meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Today we will be talking about post-secondary institutions and their efforts to promote bilingualism in Canada. We have a great panel of witnesses this morning. I am going to begin by introducing you all.
Ms. Johanne Lapointe, from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is here with Mr. Pierre Chartrand, who is the Vice-President of that organization. Welcome to our committee.
We are also pleased to have with us the President of NSERC, Ms. Suzanne Fortier, whom I met several months ago in Quebec City at a summit on the Arctic. I might just mention that another Fortier—Louis—has been appointed as Honorary Chair of a Symposium on Renewable Energy that will take place in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. Ms. Fortier is accompanied today by Ms. Barbara Conway, who is the Corporate Secretary. We also want to welcome Mr. Chad Gaffield, of SSHRC.
Welcome to the committee, Mr. Gaffield. Mr. Gaffield is president of the council.
Finally, we have with us Mr. Richard Clément, Director and Associate Dean of the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute at the University of Ottawa. Welcome, Mr. Clément. We are very happy to have your here this morning. You are the first representative of a university to appear in the context of our study. Mr. Clément is accompanied by the Associate Vice-President of Academic, Ms. Sylvie Lauzon.
Is everything all right, Mr. Rodriguez? Do you have naturally curly hair too? Are you in shape this morning?