Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To our two witnesses, thank you for attending. I know you are both busy, and the fact that we have some participation from both the regional and municipal level in this process is a good indication that we're trying to get witnesses from across a swath of different areas with respect to the bill. So I thank both of you for taking time out today.
Mr. Partington, one of the things you commented on was the issue of the approximate cost of at least $1 million to regional taxpayers to fund the programs that assist those who are at the Buffalo border, at the Niagara Falls border, or the Lewiston border and come over. We find a way to help them, and through municipal and regional property taxes we are actually taking on that responsibility.
One of the things I found interesting in your comments was that it isn't just the federal and provincial governments that are under significant financial pressure with respect to our refugee system. Costs are also incurred by municipalities--especially border municipalities and regions--across our country. So I would just like to get your thoughts or comments on that financial responsibility that you've taken. Is that a responsibility that is given to you by the provincial or federal government, or is that just something that Niagara assumes, based on its location to the border?