Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Giroux, Ms. Vanderwees and Ms. Giswold, thank you for being here with us today.
Mr. Giroux, I noticed all kinds of things in the budget, but I'd like to start with one in particular.
I see that money is earmarked to catch up on annuities paid to first nations. The compensation for Treaty 8, which was signed between 1879 and 1921, has remained unchanged since the time of signature. For the Restoule settlement of the Robinson-Huron Treaty, there has been no increase since 1875.
Does this mean that no government since then has increased these budgets for first nations, and that they have all remained unchanged, which might also explain the state in which first nations find themselves, that is, lacking both drinking water and services?
What does the fact that there's been no increase mean? What are the consequences of that now, other than the fact that the government now has to quickly play catch‑up?