It's important because, oftentimes, first nations organizations like the AFN may not have the fiscal or technical resources to quantify a gap like that. In fact, the Government of Canada—despite how difficult it is for many Canadians and, indeed, governments and members of Parliament to hear—believes we can't close a gap if we don't know the size of it. It is a commitment to first nations, quite frankly, to support that research, work with partners, provide funding to partners and do indigenous-led research on, in this case, the size of the infrastructure gap, so more communities like Châteauguay and Kahnawake can say, “This is all of our problem.”
I'm so glad you brought up your community and the work of reconciliation that happens at the municipal level. I have a similar story with Marathon and Biigtigong in Thunder Bay—Superior North. These are two northern communities that have worked together to develop a relationship. Friendships have become regular and routine. I go to wing night at the Legion, and there are many members of Biigtigong enjoying wings and beer with other members of Marathon. They have joint economic activities. They built a supportive living centre together. They are working on many exciting endeavours together. That happens through relationships. Biigtigong and Marathon—and I suspect Châteauguay and Kahnawake—are realizing that there's an economic advantage to reconciliation.
Listen, it is extremely expensive to keep people in poverty. When we start to realize that we're each other's people and come together in ways that are at all levels of government—as you just pointed out—there is such opportunity, not just in terms of better relationships and better outcomes for indigenous and non-indigenous people, but also for a better economy in Canada.