Thanks so much for being here today and for the important work you do. I'm very proud of the work that the four friendship centres in our constituency in northern Manitoba do. It strikes me that oftentimes friendship centres are really the only option for so many young people in our communities, and also for young people who come in from the neighbouring first nations, whether it's for visiting family or coming to school for a few months. Really, it's the friendship centre that's there for them.
I know there's a robust discussion around the needs for mental health supports in communities. I'd certainly like to hear your thoughts on that, but the first thing I want to say is that one of the discussions that came up post-suicide crisis in Pimicikamak Cree Nation or Cross Lake, in northern Manitoba, was about kids wanting access to recreation services. In fact, Amber Muskego, a very articulate and courageous young woman, came out and talked about the lack of recreation services. She was talking with me one on one and asking why they don't have something like a friendship centre, because she knew of the friendship centre in Thompson.
How important do you think it is that there be recreation services in first nations? Obviously, this being a clear federal jurisdiction, how important is it for the federal government to support recreation services on first nations as a way of preventing suicide?