Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. We're pleased to have all your departmental officials here as well.
First of all, I wanted to start by just congratulating your department on having reduced the number of high-risk first nation water systems from 193 down to 44, as you mentioned in your speeches, as well as reducing those 21 communities that were in especially difficult times down to four. A lot of effort has been taken, and I certainly appreciate it, and I'm sure the people in those communities do as well.
I was encouraged, as I'm sure all of the members of our committee were, when we were having our hearings in Whitehorse last fall, listening to some of the leaders of the communities. I know I've gone home and I've mentioned to people that there were a lot of CEOs who you wouldn't have minded having in your own company south of 60 because of the talent we saw there. I know just a couple of weeks ago, I, along with some committee members, was at the aboriginal finance officers' presentations, and I was fortunate enough to be sitting with Deanna Hamilton at the time, who was the award winner from the First Nations Finance Authority. When I was listening to her about the types of things they were doing in their community, as well as the other leaders who were there, I was extremely impressed with the talent that is there.
For my questions, could you perhaps expand somewhat on some of these issues, like the water systems, housing, schools? I'm interested in that, plus the infrastructure that is taking place. Also, could you update us on how our economic action plan has been working on reserves?