Thank you, and thank you, Minister, for coming to us today.
Under vote 5, “Payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account”, there was just under $10 million set aside. That's down from last year's estimates, which were around $26 million, so it's a significant reduction.
In the throne speech, your government promised that the “Government will work with municipalities as part of a new commitment to expand urban parks”. I've raised Saskatoon's Meewasin Valley with you and your officials on multiple occasions, formally and informally. As you are aware, there is an appetite at the provincial, regional and municipal levels to explore expanding and improving the Meewasin Valley as part of the federal government's plan to expand urban parks.
On October 21, I sent you a letter, along with correspondence from the Meewasin, asking for a formal meeting with you. To date, I'm not aware of a response. How do you intend on keeping the throne speech promise of new urban parks with a reduction in estimates under “new parks”? Why don't you start with low-hanging fruit like Meewasin in Saskatoon?