Welcome to meeting number 14 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee is meeting today on report 14, “Regional Relief and Recovery Fund”, of the 2021 reports of the Auditor General of Canada.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. Regarding the guidelines from the Board of Internal Economy of March 10, 2022, everyone participating in person must wear a mask, except for members of Parliament when they are seated at their place during the proceedings.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow. Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. Please keep your microphone muted when you are not speaking. For interpretation, for those on Zoom, you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of floor, English or French audio. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.
I remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair. For members in the room, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. For members participating via Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, and we thank you for your co-operation.
In accordance with our routine motion, I am informing the committee that all witnesses have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting.
I would now like to welcome our witnesses.
Welcome, everyone. It's lovely to see you again. It's the second time this week for the Auditor General.
From the Office of the Auditor General, we have Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada; Philippe Le Goff, principal; and Lucie Després, director. From the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, we have Manon Brassard, interim president, and Lucie Perreault, director of programs. From the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, we have Chris Padfield, acting deputy minister, and Linda Cousineau, vice-president, business innovation and community development. From Prairies Economic Development Canada, we have Dylan Jones, interim deputy minister of PrairiesCan and president of PacifiCan; Hicham Aitelmaalem, director general; and Sundeep Cheema, chief financial officer.
Witnesses will have five minutes to make their opening statements.
Ms. Hogan, you have the floor.