I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 120 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 18, 2024, the committee is resuming its study of the Competition Act and air travel in northern, rural and remote communities.
Before we begin, I'd like to remind all members and meeting participants in the room of the following important preventative measures.
To prevent disruptive and potentially harmful audio feedback incidents, which can cause injuries, all in-person participants are reminded to keep their earpieces away from the 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All earpieces have been replaced by a model that greatly reduces the probability of audio feedback. These new earpieces are black in colour, whereas the former earpieces were grey. Please only use the black, approved earpiece.
By default, all unused earpieces will be unplugged at the start of the meeting. When you're 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 also been adjusted to increase the distance between microphones and reduce the chance of feedback from an ambient earpiece.
These measures are in place so we can conduct our business without interruption and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including our interpreters. Thank you all for your co-operation.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses, colleagues.
Appearing from 11 to noon today, we have, from the Air Transport Association of Canada, Mr. John McKenna, president and chief executive officer. Welcome to you, sir.
From the National Airlines Council of Canada, we have Jeff Morrison, president and chief executive officer. Welcome back.
From North Star Air, we have Mr. Jeff Stout, president and chief executive officer. Welcome to you.
We'll turn it right over to you, Mr. McKenna, for your opening remarks.
I will give you the floor. You have five minutes, sir.