Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. This is our 40th meeting.
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), we're considering supplementary estimates (B) for 2009-10, with votes 1b, 5b, 10b, 17b, 20b, 35b, 40b, 45b, 50b, 55b, 60b, and 65b under Transport, which were referred to the committee on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
Joining us at the table today are the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport; Yaprak Baltacioglu, deputy minister of Transport Canada; Suzanne Vinet, associate deputy minister; and John Forster, from Infrastructure Canada.
We welcome you.
I know that the minister has an opening comment and I'm sure we're all ready and willing to listen. We've asked the minister to be here for one hour. I'll advise the committee that he has another commitment, but he has committed to the first hour.
I'll ask him to open, please.