Congratulations, Madam Chair. You are the first chair to pronounce my name correctly. Thank you very much.
I would like to ask a question of the witnesses. I sit on the Public Accounts Committee. I don't know if you are aware of this, but the Auditor General was very critical in regards to the performance of Indian and Northern Affairs in chapter 4 of her May 2008 report. A number of the issues you presented here in this Committee were raised, including coordination between departments, the various ministerial perspectives, the timeframes for delivery of services, the absence of program availability in some communities—here, in specific reference to the violence reduction program which is only available in half of the communities—, Treasury Board regulations that are very restrictive and which complicate the coordination and the implementation of programs, as well as a funding formula based on socio-economic criteria which are now outdated. This report is quite recent and is dated 2008.
Moreover, the Auditor General noted that spending on government programs is increasing significantly, but that the department's budget is not adequate and is not following the increase in expenditures.
Are you aware of this report? What is the view of the Metis Nation regarding this situation?