Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for coming and giving very compelling witness testimony today. I've done a lot of work with my own first nations communities and sat on the aboriginal affairs committee. I understand the importance of respect in your culture. I'm glad to hear you say that consultation has increased somewhat, or your perception of consultation has increased somewhat over the last several years. It's a very important factor in relationship-building between your community and the government.
I come from a community in northern Alberta where we have a couple of military bases. We see the military not only as tanks, guns, and airplanes, but quite frankly as a mechanism for building infrastructure in our communities. The military seldom comes to a community without adding benefits, whether it's economic development and jobs or infrastructure. For instance, the military just spent $135 million in our community helping to upgrade water, sewer, and infrastructure programs.
Do you see a potential benefit when we talk about the military? It's kind of the chicken and the egg. It's not always just about equipment; sometimes it's about increasing resources and infrastructure. Do you agree with that?