The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of my son, Tristan Fréchette.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Maxime Langlois. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of participants of the #LeadLikeAGirl program by Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Jaffer.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Trevor Reed, Professor of Law at Arizona State University. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Boyer.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Larry Cerqua, Chair of the Canadian Real Estate Association. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Oh.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, today we have with us for Question Period the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P, Minister of Public Services and Procurement. On behalf of all senators, I welcome the minister.

Honourable senators, let me remind you that during Question Period with a minister the initial question is limited to 60 seconds, and the initial answer to 90 seconds, followed by one supplementary question of at most 45 seconds and an answer of 45 seconds. The reading clerk will stand 10 seconds before these times expire. Pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate, senators do not need to stand. Question Period will last 64 minutes.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, minister.

The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, senator.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, the time for Question Period has expired. I am sure you will join me in thanking Minister Duclos for being here with us today.

Thank you, minister. We will now resume the proceedings where we left off.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Gerba, did you want to ask a supplementary question?

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Gerba, do you have a question?