Welcome, folks.
I call the 39th meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs to order.
This morning we have two distinguished guests: Colonel Hugh MacKay, deputy surgeon general of the Canadian Forces;
and Col. Marc Bilodeau, Director of Medical Policy at the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre.
This morning, Colonel MacKay will have an opening statement of less than 10 minutes. After that, we will have rounds of questions.
I rather like the approach I took last week, with fewer constraints, and I propose to follow the same approach this week, except not quite so much. I would appreciate MPs, as they question the witnesses, keeping an eye on the chair and his twitchings, because I don't like to bring down the gavel. I appreciate the collegiality of the meeting and I'll do what I can to maintain it that way. But if you don't look at the chair, you might hear unpleasant sounds.
Thank you very much.
Colonel MacKay, the floor is yours.