Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to Ms. Fraser. My apologies for missing the first part of your presentation; I had another commitment.
I thought we were going to be spending the bulk of our time today on the conservation of federal official residences, but I'm going to assume that my colleagues have covered all of those questions.
I'm going to move to chapter 4, regarding the child and family services at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In paragraph 23 you point out that the funding formula dates back to 1988, and I addressed this to Mr. Campbell the other day. It's a 20-year-old funding formula, and my understanding is the funding formula is based on the average usage rate of about 6%. And in the report--although it is not here in front of me right now--I understand there's a range of 0% to 28% in terms of actual experience that's needed here.
I think it's important that Canadians understand and have trust in the fact that your department and other departments are being wise in the way we use taxpayer dollars. That's one concern. But the other part that I think is missing here is the issue of trying to find a way we can replicate, as much as possible, those communities that are under 6% in terms of their experience, to not only save money, but improve the lives of children on reserves.
So I'm wondering if you would have the freedom within your mandate to recommend those kinds of follow-ups to the department and say they could change their funding formula, but perhaps even more foundational than that is the issue of trying to find ways we can reproduce the positive experiences of those first nations communities that are closer to zero, and not up near 27% and 28%. Do you have that kind of freedom within your mandate?