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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 19, 2024
The Chair (Mr. Ken Hardie (Fleetwood—Port Kells, Lib.))
  • 01:01:40 p.m.
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I'd like to call the meeting to order. Welcome to meeting number 38 of the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canada–People's Republic of China Relationship. Pursuant to the order of reference of May 16, 2022, the committee is meeting on its study of the Canada–People's Republic of China Relations. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. If you are participating by video conference, you can click on the microphone icon to activate your mic. Please mute yourself when you're not speaking. For interpretation for those on Zoom, you have the choice, at the bottom of your screen—it's that little globe icon—of floor audio, English or French. Those in the room, of course, can use the earpiece and select the desired channel. I will remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair. Members in the room, if you wish to speak, raise your hand. Of course, we have a speaking order, so I think that's going to be okay. Members on Zoom and especially our witnesses, if there is something that you would like to add to the discussion, please use the “raise hand” function so that we can recognize you. It quite often happens that we're asking questions of one person and somebody else has something very valuable to add, so use that “raise hand” function as you will in order to draw the attention of the chair and the clerk. We'll try to do our best to keep the speaking order as tight as possible. As per the motion adopted on March 26, 2024, we're hearing testimony in relation to matters revealed in the Winnipeg lab documents. Looking at our roster here, around the table, I want to welcome Ms. Idlout in place of Ms. McPherson, Mr. Cooper for Ms. Lantsman, Dr. Ellis for MP Seeback, Mr. Iacono for MP Oliphant, and MP Villemure for MP Bergeron. Welcome to all of you. From the Department of Health, we have Dr. Stephen Lucas, deputy minister, by video conference; and Nadine Huggins, assistant deputy minister and chief security officer, corporate services branch. From the Public Health Agency of Canada, we have Heather Jeffrey, president; Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, vice-president, national microbiology laboratory, by video conference; and Donald Sheppard, vice-president, infectious diseases and vaccination programs branch, by video conference. I understand that Ms. Jeffrey is the one with an opening statement. Ms. Jeffrey, the floor is yours for up to five minutes.
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