Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you so much, Minister, for being here today. Welcome to the mighty OGGO committee.
This transaction saves Canadian taxpayers $7.4 million. I want to repeat that. This transaction saves Canadian taxpayers $7.4 million. The process that led us here is independent, and it is rigorous. There were 21 properties appraised. A 100-page analysis was written on this transaction, but I want to focus on the third point. This is an investment in the most important relationship for Canada, and that is the relationship with the United States.
In my community of Windsor—Tecumseh and Windsor—Essex, there's no more important relationship for cross-border communities like mine. We have the EV battery plant that's creating 2,500 permanent jobs for local workers. We have the largest greenhouse sector in all of North America. Our number one export destination is the United States, so you better believe that we pay very close attention to the U.S.-Canada relationship, and we are absolutely for strengthening that relationship.
Minister, in your role as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, can you talk to us about the importance of investing in that relationship between Canada and the United States?