Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, ministers. It's good to have you at committee.
Minister Freeland, I'd like to start with a question about the part of the world that I represent. Since you mentioned Haida Gwaii when I walked in the room, I know you're familiar with their unique predicament. Haida Gwaii is separated from the north coast by a 100-kilometre, seven-hour ferry ride when the weather's good. Sometimes the ferry is docked for several days in bad weather. There are all kinds of reasons why people need to get off Haida Gwaii—for appointments, shopping and those sorts of things—and all of their goods rely on that ferry link, so the cost of living on Haida Gwaii is extraordinarily expensive due to their remoteness.
This is an issue that, for many years, has been advocated for. Thirty years ago, a Liberal government cut their access to the northern residents tax deduction in half, and they've been fighting ever since to have it fully restored. It seems to me that, during a cost of living crisis, when the heightened cost of living from remoteness is accentuated by what's happening in the larger economy, it would be the perfect time to make things right and to restore their access to that important tax deduction.
Is that something your government is willing to do?