I would like to call the meeting to order at this time.
I want to welcome everyone here. Bienvenue à tous.
Colleagues, this meeting is called pursuant to the Standing Orders. We're dealing today with chapter 1, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Programs”, from the fall 2009 report of the Auditor General of Canada.
We have a number of witnesses before the committee this morning.
From the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, of course, we have the Auditor General herself, Sheila Fraser. She is accompanied this morning by Assistant Auditor General Neil Maxwell and Principal Tom Wileman.
From the Treasury Board Secretariat, we have the secretary, Michelle d'Auray. She is accompanied by the assistant secretary, Mr. Alister Smith.
From the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, we have the deputy minister and accounting officer, Neil Yeates. He is accompanied by Elizabeth Ruddick, director general of research and evaluation.
Finally, from the Department of the Environment, we have the deputy minister and accounting officer, Ian Shugart. He is accompanied by William Blois, the associate director of the audit and evaluation branch.
On behalf of all members of the committee, I want to extend a very warm welcome to everyone.
We will now have opening statements
Ms. Fraser, you're first. You have up to five minutes.