Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Speaking through you, Mr. Chair, I'm very pleased, Minister, to hear that the main estimates are seeing an overall net increase in funding for the department, and in particular in the context of Canada's being an open and welcoming country.
I want to ask about the processing times for family reunification. I know that in many cases there are parents and grandparents who are waiting up to four years to be reunited with their families. Some spousal applications take upwards of two years. In my riding of Scarborough North, I've met with constituents, and in fact, just the other week one constituent was almost reduced to tears talking about how he has waited almost two years to sponsor his wife from abroad and about the challenges of waiting so long.
Minister, can you share with us how the budget that is set and the priorities you have given to the department will support family reunification?