Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
I'll try to switch our tone a little bit here.
Ministers, it's nice to see you here. Thank you for making yourselves available for what is always an important discussion.
Before I get to my first question, Minister Vandal, I want to take this opportunity to mention your recent announcement that, after a very lengthy and successful career of serving the people of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada, you'll be spending some more time with your family. I've had the honour and privilege of knowing you since I was a young boy. I have tremendously benefited from your friendship, your counsel and your experience. I certainly am looking forward to having a few more minutes with you in this official capacity here today, but I did want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on an immensely meaningful career and your service to the people you and I both represent in our home province of Manitoba.
With that, Minister, there are two projects in particular under way right now in downtown Winnipeg. There's the revitalization of the Hudson's Bay building, which is a partnership we have with the Southern Chiefs' Organization. Then, of course, there's the huge redevelopment project being undertaken at Portage Place, which will see some of the $633 million in federal health transfers that have gone from the federal government to the Province of Manitoba put to use, with, in addition to that, some very meaningful outcomes for indigenous folks and Winnipeggers as a whole across our city.
Can you tell us just a little bit about these two projects and the work you have been involved in as the PrairiesCan and northern affairs minister? How do you see these types of investments in first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in particular as being meaningful to both the social and economic success of our province?
Thank you.