Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To you, Ms. Fox, thanks for your time today. This is a challenge that we're all taking about, and everyone around this room agrees on the urgency of this matter. That's what I want to pick up on here.
I think the frustration that Canadians are feeling from coast to coast—and this goes beyond any particular government of whatever stripe—is that this is a situation that has been neglected for far too long, through all kinds of governments. As Mr. Desjarlais pointed out, that neglect, that lack of adequate response to that crisis, to this ongoing crisis, is extremely frustrating for Canadians from coast to coast.
In my region, I hear about it: Why can't we, in Canada, with the kind of water reserves we have, not just get this fixed? I know that seems very simplistic in a very complex circumstance, but I think Canadians want to hear assurances now, not, “Oh, in 2023 or 2024,” or “Yes, we're going to set another deadline and make another announcement.” They want to know that the government is going to respond with the urgency this situation requires. When there's a national emergency, they can move amazing numbers of things in a hurry and can get things done when they choose to make it a priority.
Why can't this government make this an absolute priority? If they have to borrow from other departments and bring resources.... I'm talking about human resources, because it doesn't look like it's a funding issue. It looks like we have to get the right people in place.
Can you speak to that, Ms. Fox? What is the government doing to show that this is an absolute number one priority? It needs to be. Canadians are demanding it.