Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thanks for being here today. I listened to your opening remarks. It sounds as though you've been very busy since taking your new position as Minister of Canadian Heritage. Obviously, you've been doing some great things. Obviously, you have a department that is very important to helping Canadians shape our national identity and have pride in our country.
Obviously, you know we've been undertaking a study of our preparation for the Olympics. We've had a number of organizations, including sports organizations, here and we've heard over and over how our athletes and our great efforts, which we have seen at recent Olympics, inspire Canadians, particularly young Canadians, to be involved in sport. Obviously there is work being undertaken as we approach our 150th anniversary and there are other large milestones coming very soon. There's a lot of work for you to do, but you can see the fruits of those efforts in the pride we create in Canadians about being Canadian.
I think about some of the local organizations that your department has funded. In my riding specifically, the Airdrie Food Bank has a festival every year that raises money for those who go a little hungry, but it also promotes the arts while it's doing so with its Empty Bowls Arts Festival. I think about things like the Mountain View Music Fest and Airdrie's ARTember. I also think of course about the world-class Banff Centre in my riding with its arts and leadership training thanks to the funding that comes from the department for that.
I know you're proud to be a part of all those things. I appreciate your being here today.
But I would like to focus in on the subject matter at hand. Unlike some of the opposition members who have chosen to talk about future business in the committee or to bring forward notices of motion, I would really like to talk a little bit about some of the things in the supplementary estimates if I can. I'll just ask you a couple of questions in regard to that.
I notice the transfer from Indian Affairs and Northern Development to Canadian Heritage to promote public awareness and community participation in National Aboriginal Day activities. I wonder if you can tell me a little bit about what that transfer has enabled the department to do and what kinds of activities and things surround that.