Thank you.
I want to speak about programming through Canadian Heritage.
I'm very proud of NDP pressure that we put on to oppose the cuts that the Liberals planned for Indigenous Services at a time when the infrastructure gap in first nations is $349.2 billion, something that we see in communities here in our part of the country very clearly. It's inconceivable that the Liberals thought it was a good idea to cut funding for the services that indigenous peoples and indigenous communities rely on. We were clear, and thankfully, these cuts were reversed, for the most part.
I also know that Liberals, like Conservatives, are always looking to underfund first nations. I couldn't help but notice that in the main estimates, there's been a forecast of a decrease of almost $100 million for the indigenous languages and culture program compared to the previous year.
I have the privilege of representing a part of the country where it is a constant struggle to support indigenous language education. Can you, as officials in Canadian Heritage, explain what the logic was in giving almost $100 million less than a year ago for the protection of indigenous languages when we know the extent to which many of them are under serious threat?