Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate the kind words, General. It's good to see both General Pelletier and General Prévost back at committee.
First and foremost, I want to thank you, all of the Canadian Armed Forces and everyone at NORAD for their efforts over the past week and a half in dealing with these flying balloons and other objects that have been causing so much uproar within the media and in the general public as well.
We know that the last three balloons that were shot down looked to be more benign in nature, but we won't know that until recovery efforts have taken place.
In your professional opinion, what was the intended purpose of the first surveillance balloon, and will you confirm that it was launched from the People's Republic of China?