Thank you, Chair.
Madam Fraser, thank you. It's nice to see you, as always.
I notice that under the new tasks and duties that Bill C-2 has in mind for you, you will now be the auditor for all crowns except for the Bank of Canada and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. I note that the auditor of record for the Bank of Canada up until recently was Arthur Andersen of Enron fame. I would much rather have you as the auditor of the Bank of Canada than Arthur Andersen. I don't know why those would be beyond your scope. I'll ask you to comment on that.
Also, Ms. Fraser, we're very concerned, on a number of levels, about this notion that you should be auditing first nations. I'm pleased to see in your comments that in your view, I think you say, you believe you would exercise that option rarely, if at all. I do remember your observations about the accounting reporting of first nations, that you actually felt that they were perhaps over-audited, or the burden of reports that they filed was excessive as it is.
I share that with you, but I go further. I don't believe the Government of Canada has any business following the money beyond when that money is transferred to first nations because of the unique relationship they have with first nations generally.
I'd ask you to expand a bit on both of those things--first, why in your view the Bank of Canada and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are excluded, and second, your reasoning behind first nations.