Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the invitation to appear before your committee today. I am the anchor and senior editor of a program on TVO called The Agenda. It's TVO's flagship current affairs program.
Just by way of background for those of you who don't know the program, we provide analysis and a forum for debate on issues that are shaping Ontario and the world, and we aim to do so from an Ontario perspective.
We did a lot of programs about the G8 and G20 summits. During the weekend when the G20 was being held, I shared what I saw in downtown Toronto on the Saturday and Sunday via Twitter and my blog. Our program, The Agenda, also did a lot of related programming before and after the G20 weekend in Toronto.
For example, we produced programs on an “outsider looking in” account of the G-20 from the former president of Peru. We did an examination of how emerging powers, such as Brazil, India, and China, are reshaping the global order within the G-20; whether the G-20 was a boon or a boondoggle for Toronto; what Canada's number one priority should be as it tries to define itself on the new G-20 stage; a critical examination of the events of the summit weekend; and an interview with Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair regarding police actions during the summit.
In addition, The Agenda welcomed a number of other journalists who had been present during the events of the G20 weekend in June.
I hope this shows that our coverage was really very comprehensive.
And finally, for the record, I should just say--I guess I should say this--I'm here as a journalist who does not have a stake in the outcome of your proceedings here. I'm here at the request of your committee and feel that it's my civic duty to honour that request, but because I'm a journalist, I hope you'll understand that it's my job to remain neutral.
So I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, but obviously cannot offer any opinions beyond that which I've already put on the record. Merci beaucoup.