I call the meeting to order.
Good morning, everybody. We're on time. That's the first victory.
The second victory in no particular order was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' victory in the Grey Cup. If the vice-chair and I have a bit of a spring in our step this morning, you will give us a little bit of slack. It was an incredibly exciting game, as it has been for more than 100 years, and we from Winnipeg are absolutely thrilled that we were able to emerge, so we're in a pretty good meeting space this morning coming off this victory.
I am very grateful to all of you for arriving on time. Punctuality, as my mentor once said, is the courtesy of kings and queens. We will start our meetings on time, and I hope we can more or less end them on time.
I will be very alert to allotments of time when we have witnesses. It is very important that we respect that rule. It just keeps everybody a little bit sharper, and it's the right way to run a meeting.
Welcome to meeting number two of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
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 by using the Zoom application, as I am. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. So you are aware, the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation, and in light of the recommendations from health authorities as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, and to remain healthy and safe, all those attending the meeting in person are to maintain two-metre physical distancing and must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is highly recommended that the mask be worn at all times, including when seated. Everyone must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the provided hand sanitizer at the room entrance.
As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank members in advance for their co-operation.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow.
Members and witnesses participating virtually may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of either “floor”, “English” or “French”. If interpretation is lost, please inform me immediately, and we will ensure interpretation is properly restored before resuming the proceedings.
For members participating in person, proceed as you usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room. Keep in mind the Board of Internal Economy's guidelines for mask use and health protocols.
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. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled as normal by the proceedings and verification officer. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute.
I will give a reminder that all comments by members should be addressed through the chair, and with regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
Moving to committee business, pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee is meeting today to consider a request received by the clerk and submitted by four members of the committee to discuss the mandate given by the House and the urgency for the committee to organize its proceedings and invite the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other witnesses to appear.
Members have all received the letter.
I will now open the floor to debate.
Who would like to speak first?
I don't see a hand up.
