I would like to begin by welcoming our witnesses, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Claudette Dumont-Smith, and Katharine Irngaut.
Thank you so much for being here. We've waited a very long time to have the pleasure of your company here at the committee. We're all very grateful that we've been able to manage this and that you're able to accommodate us.
Before I begin, we have two quick pieces of business.
First, there is a letter on each member's spot indicating that the Honourable Rob Nicholson, the Honourable Vic Toews, and the Honourable Rona Ambrose will indeed be able to come to our committee. The clerk is still in discussion with their various offices, but they have promised to be here very soon with their officials. I can only conclude that persistence pays and that we will have a chance to talk with the ministers and staff in the very near future.
Second, we have unfortunately lost two valued members of our committee, but we have new members. But we've lost Ms. McLeod, so we'll need to elect a new vice-chair from the Conservative caucus. We can do that later today or we can do it on Tuesday. I'll let you think about that. We'll come back to it.
I've had a brief word with our witnesses. As I indicated at the beginning of the meeting, it has been a long time and we've looked forward with great anticipation to their coming to the committee. I've noted that only an hour has been set aside, but because officials from the ministry are not able to attend, I would suggest, with the permission of the committee, that we extend the hearing a little bit, for as long as it takes to answer all of the questions and to be able to converse fully with our witnesses.
Is that agreeable? Does the committee agree that we could extend a bit in order to make sure all questions are answered?