Good morning, everyone. This is meeting number 77 of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. It is Thursday, March 21, 2013.
We are televised today, so I would remind all committee members and all those in the audience to please adjust their cellphones so that we don't have ringing cellphones in the middle of questions or presentations.
Today we are considering the main estimates of 2013-14.
In our first hour we have with us the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and National Security. The minister is accompanied by his departmental officials, who will be our witnesses for this hour and also for the second hour today.
From the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, we have François Guimont, Deputy Minister. Welcome back.
From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, we have Commissioner Bob Paulson. Welcome.
From Correctional Services Canada, we have Commissioner Don Head.
From the Canada Border Services Agency, we have Malcolm Brown, executive vice-president. Welcome.
From the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, we have Michel Coulombe, deputy director of operations.
And from the National Parole Board, we have Harvey Cenaiko, chair.
Our committee wants to thank the minister for making arrangements to appear before us during the estimates period. We also thank the departmental officials for making themselves available to accompany the minister today. Our committee very much appreciates that the minister and his officials all respond to our committee's invitations to appear from time to time—and indeed many times—and assist in our deliberations. Canadians are pleased and proud of all of you for the fine record of public service.
I invite the Minister of Public Safety to make an opening statement, and then we'll move into the first round of questioning.
Minister, welcome. The floor is yours.