Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to welcome all the witnesses and thank them for being here today.
I would like to begin at the beginning. Mr. Ferguson, I notice you have some comments on page 1 of your report, in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2, about the history of this agency. In paragraph 6.1, you mention some of the unique challenges in the north, including distance from markets, limited physical infrastructure, human resources and organizational challenges, and socio-economic conditions. These are all pretty obvious. They're not hidden. They are well-known challenges in the north. Is that correct?