Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for inviting me to appear before this committee to discuss the Public Accounts of Canada for 2007.
As you mentioned, Mr. Chair, I have with me a colleague from the Department of Finance, Mr. Paul Rochon, the assistant deputy minister of economic and fiscal policy, as well as two members of my own staff, Mr. John Morgan and Mr. Bill Matthews.
We are very proud that for the ninth consecutive year, the Auditor General has issued an unqualified opinion on the government's financial statements.
As you may know, I'm fairly new in the position of interim Comptroller General. I would like to assure you that I take these committee meetings very seriously and have spent a good amount of time preparing.
I'll do my best to answer your questions, but from time to time I may turn to my colleagues for assistance in responding to your questions and observations.
Mr. Chairman, we have tabled a slide presentation outlining some of the key financial results for last year, as well as our preliminary comments on the observations of the Auditor General, included in the public accounts of 2007.
If you like, we can go through the presentation, or, if you prefer, we can simply table the presentation and get straight to committee members' questions and observations. Also, we have brought copies of the 2006-07 annual financial report in case members would like a copy.
Before concluding, I would like to thank the Auditor General and her office for the continuing professional relationship that we have enjoyed.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions, observations, and suggestions.