Good morning, and thank you for being here.
My question deals with something you said during your presentation. It was in response to initiatives by the Office of the Comptroller General. You created a chief audit and evaluation executive position that reports directly to you. I would like to commend you on that because I myself have worked at Indian Affairs, and substantial efforts were made with regard to accountability. You face a considerable challenge, because the funds are not managed by Indian Affairs, but are mostly transferred to aboriginal communities. The funds are transferred to aboriginal communities and are managed by a third party, on the one hand, and on the other, there is an added difficulty in connection with the autonomy or governance of first nations with regard to the management of their funds. Nevertheless, those funds are transferred under particular agreements.
I would like to hear your views on the means that have already been taken and the improvements you will bring about so that the communities that manage the money that is transferred to them do so by applying the same accountability criteria that you use in your department.