Qujannamiik, Iksivautaq.
Welcome, Minister Hajdu and the team you have brought with you.
My colleague Blake Desjarlais, the MP for Edmonton Griesbach, had hoped to ask you these questions. He meant to be here. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it, so I'll be asking this question that he asked me to ask you.
Joanne Wilkinson, an official within your department, appeared at a meeting of the public accounts committee about this audit that we're talking about today. There was a discussion about the same $12 million for the first nation infrastructure fund, which is available to fund the 94 unfunded structural mitigation projects. It was mentioned that the estimated cost of these 94 project proposals would be $358 million.
During that committee meeting last Friday, my colleague Blake questioned the deputy minister about this very pressing issue. He asked her whether the amount of funding was sufficient, and she said that more money than that $12 million is needed. She clearly stated that her department had requested $300 million from you, Minister Hajdu, and that she had received a favourable response.
My question to you, Minister Hajdu, is this. Will the $358 million that the department requested be added to the first nation infrastructure fund in the next federal budget?
Qujannamiik.