At this point in time, I'd like to call the meeting to order. Bienvenue à tous.
This meeting is called pursuant to the Standing Orders, and the committee today is dealing with chapter 8, “Strengthening Aid Effectiveness—Canadian International Development Agency”, of the fall 2009 report of the Auditor General of Canada.
We are very pleased to have with us today, first of all, from the Office of the Auditor General, Richard Flageole, the Assistant Auditor General, accompanied by John Reed, Principal, and Dusan Duvnjak, Director. From the Canadian International Development Agency, we have the President and Accounting Officer, Margaret Biggs, accompanied by David Moloney, Executive Vice-President.
On behalf of the committee, I want to again welcome each of you to the meeting.
There is a possibility, members and witnesses, that the committee hearing may be suspended for a vote, but that would only take about 10 or 15 minutes. That's just a possibility. I don't know if it will happen or not. In any event, we have no control over that, so I'm going to call for opening statements.
I understand, Mr. Flageole, you'll be delivering the opening statement for the Office of the Auditor General. I turn the matter over to you right now.