Thank you.
Mr. Chair, I think what I would say is that we are investing. We have a program called the circuit rider training program, which is essentially a $20 million per year program to fund water operators. We have particular outreach to youth in communities or those members of communities who may want to take this on.
There are a lot of considerations, though. It's about training. It's about ensuring the right salary dollars so that water operators, once trained, don't depart and go work for a bigger utility. That's always a risk factor. It's also about investing into the kinds of hubs that can be a bit of a network for those who are working in communities, so they have mentorship and/or expertise that they can go to, to troubleshoot and seek additional supports. I think of the Atlantic water authority, which will essentially provide water supports to a minimum of 17 first nations in the Atlantic Canada context. Through the transformation exercise and funding from the department, they will be able to kind of train in place and do regular continuous training, not just to go into new technologies when it comes to water.
It's a complex issue, and I think that, depending on the health of the community, that's also a consideration. We've talked to chiefs to say that we have more money on the table to perhaps train more operators, but at times their communities are facing significant intergenerational trauma or addictions issues and they're having a hard time mobilizing that workforce.
It's about all of the supports and not just the funding for the water operators. It's about mental health. It's about education. It's about that continuous support system through various services.