Good afternoon, everyone. This is meeting number 54 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Wednesday, May 3, 2017.
I'll remind the committee again that we are televised, so if those in the audience and the committee members wouldn't mind muting their BlackBerrys or telephone communication items, that would be greatly appreciated.
Today we are conducting a hearing on report 5, “Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment and Retention—National Defence”, from the fall 2016 reports of the Auditor General of Canada. Appearing as witnesses today we have Mr. Michael Ferguson, the Auditor General of Canada, and Mr. Gordon Stock, principal. Welcome. Also, from the Department of National Defence, we have Mr. John Forster, the deputy minister. As well, he has brought other personnel to assist him.
I understand that each of our witnesses today has an opening statement. I invite the Auditor General to begin.
Madam Mendès, go ahead.