Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for coming today.
Minister, you talked about the call to action number 53 and the importance of independence. I want to talk about independence for a couple of minutes.
The Governor General, acting on the advice of cabinet, appointed the interim board back in 2018. They did six months of work and came up with a final report. Then, there was a long delay. You appointed the transition committee in December 2021. As you stated in your comments, you, the minister, in collaboration with the transition committee you appointed, will select the first board of directors. You'll take their advice. This first board of directors is then to establish an application process for future board members to be elected by an as-yet-undefined membership. We don't know who that membership will be yet. I get the non-profit organization. There are no articles of incorporation yet. I get all that.
In your own words, in talking about this body, you said it isn't up to Canada to be grading itself. However, when I look at this process, Minister, I have to ask you why you're comfortable having so much direct control or influence over this body tasked with holding your government to account and advancing reconciliation. Even if you don't feel you actually have that direct control, the perception.... It sure seems as if you do.