I open the meeting of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Thursday, November 2, 2006.
Committee members, you have the orders of the day before you. We'll be dealing with the main estimates for 2006-07 and votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, L30, L35, 40, and 45 under Indian Affairs and Northern Development; and votes 85 and 90 under Canadian Heritage.
This morning we have the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, with us to make a presentation.
With him are witnesses from his department. We want to welcome Michael Wernick, deputy minister; Suzanne Tining, associate deputy minister; and Jim Quinn, acting assistant deputy minister of corporate services.
I would also like to acknowledge the gallery. We have a good gallery today, and welcome especially to students from the NS program. It's good to see you.
Mr. Minister, thank you very much for coming here this morning to speak on the estimates. We'll let you have an opening presentation, and then we'll carry on with questions.
Committee members, I understand the minister has to leave by 10 o'clock, so we'll deal with the minister for the first hour.
Mr. Minister.