Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It is with great pleasure that I address my comments this afternoon to Ms. Fraser, the Auditor General, as well as to the representatives of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. I had the privilege of being a technical advisor with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada over the past few years, and I worked with Ms. Davis, particularly on the drinking water strategy. I also want to say hello to the people from Kitcisakik who are present with us here today.
I have a few questions to ask you concerning accountability. Ms. Fraser, reference was made earlier to the large number of reports provided by the communities. Do you feel that those reports allow you to ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent? On the one hand, we want to simplify administrative procedures, and on the other, we want to ensure that accountability is enhanced. What is your perspective on this? Are the reports sufficient for accountability purposes? Are there too many? If so, can we simplify the process, while ensuring that there is good accountability on the part of the communities?