Good afternoon, everyone. This is meeting number 33 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, on Monday, May 1, 2017.
I remind everyone today that we are televised, so I would encourage all members and all those in the audience to please put your phones, your communication devices, on airplane mode or mute. That would be much appreciated.
Today we're conducting a hearing on report number seven of the Auditor General, “Operating and Maintenance Support for Military Equipment—National Defence”, from the fall 2016 reports of the Auditor General of Canada.
Appearing as witnesses today, we have Mr. Michael Ferguson, Auditor General of Canada; and Gordon Stock, principal. Welcome.
From the Department of National Defence, we welcome back Mr. John Forster, deputy minister; Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, acting vice chief of the defence staff and commander of the Royal Canadian Navy; Mr. Patrick Finn, assistant deputy minister, materiel; and Brigadier-General Werner Liedtke, director general and deputy chief financial officer.
The Auditor General and deputy minister have opening statements. We would invite Mr. Ferguson to begin.
Welcome here, and thank you.