I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 113 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the committee is resuming its study on the state of airline competition in Canada.
Before we begin, colleagues, I'd like to remind you and all those in the room of the following important preventative measures to prevent disruptive and potentially harmful audio feedback incidents that can cause injuries.
All in-person participants are reminded to keep their earpieces away from microphones at all times. As indicated in the communiqué from the Speaker to all members on Monday, April 29, the following measures have been taken to help prevent audio feedback incidents.
All earpieces have been replaced by a model that greatly reduces the probability of audio feedback. The new earpieces are black in colour, whereas the former earpieces were grey. Please only use the approved black earpiece. By default, all unused earpieces will be unplugged at the start of the meeting. When you are not using your earpiece, please place it face down on the middle of the sticker that you will find on the table for this purpose, as indicated. Please consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents.
The room layout has been adjusted to increase the distance between microphones and reduce the chance of feedback from an ambient earpiece.
These measures are in place so that we can conduct our business without interruption and protect the health and safety of all participants, including our interpreters.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. In accordance with the committee's routine motions concerning connection tests for witnesses, I'd like to share with all of you that witnesses have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses for the first hour. Appearing before us, we have, from the Department of Transport, Craig Hutton, associate assistant deputy minister of policy, and Jennifer Little, director general of air policy.
With that, I will turn it over to both of you for opening remarks. You have five minutes.