Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to be meeting with our witnesses.
I very much sympathize with you, given the recurring red tape associated with the establishment of new agencies. As you know, I come from the riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, and we aren't too concerned about these matters. Perhaps things don't operate the same way as in Quebec either.
I'm very pleased to see Ms. Matthews today. In Nunavik, in particular, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and the Quebec minister acknowledged that Nunavik now needed 1,000 housing units in order to be up to date. A negotiation has just been completed. The parties agreed on 340 housing units over five years.
I understand that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation may not have a lot of working capital. Ms. Matthews, am I mistaken in saying you currently have approximately $8 billion? Is it the Corporation that tells the various ministers involved the amount that is granted? If not, is it the minister who, through his bargaining power, can obtain the necessary funding to perform his duties?
We know that 340 housing units over five years for 14 communities represents 24 units per community. That doesn't even cover the annual population increase in each of the villages. I would like you to explain to me how the money is granted to the department and, based on the negotiations, in Quebec.