I want to thank the panellists for coming today.
For a brief context, I was with Parks Canada for over 30 years.
I want to commend Mr. Latourelle for the leadership he's shown, the leadership we continue seeing, and—as I meet with government officials—the leadership that Parks Canada is recognized for in its relationships with indigenous communities. I know that was very much under your leadership, and thank you for that.
For Steven, it's interesting. I worked in Wood Buffalo National Park in the 1980s. I was a resident of Fort Smith for about six years. At that point, the whole dream of Thaidene Nëné was the beginning of an idea, and I know it's taken 30 years. My career and my life were spent watching the relationship with that community. It's exciting for me hear your comments that things are moving along there. I commend the community for its insight and vision, and the care that has been taken over that time to get to this point in the creation of that space. It is an honour to hear you speak today. Thank you for the value and for your comments.
With the work I've done with Parks Canada, I've travelled through Gwaii Haanas and I've seen the Haida watchmen program. I was active for a year as superintendent at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and I saw the great programs through the guardian programs there. I commend you for the work you're doing, and I would love to see those types of programs growing across the country in many different protected areas. It is a wonderful afternoon to be spending with you, so thank you.
With those comments, I would like to start briefly with Alan, and then I'm going to move to Steven.
I am curious. You have given us some great ideas about protected areas. Once we complete the systems plan—and I have this dream that maybe we could get there by 2020, although I recognize that relationships with our partners, particularly indigenous communities, take time and in many cases it's decades—do you have any thoughts on the next phase of what the park system may look like once you reach completion of the existing 1970s plan? Do you have any thoughts on where that could go?