Thank you, Mr. Norlock.
You're right to mention that sometimes Canadians don't really know that when it comes to natural disasters, the Government of Canada has entered into an agreement that goes back to 1970, where, after some thresholds are reached and some initial costs are assumed by the province where the disaster occurred, the support of the government can go up to 90%. This is what takes place in major disasters, such as the flood that has occurred in Alberta.
One thing we have to take into account—and I would say this is certainly a challenge not only for our government, but for our country—is that the number of events over the last decade has increased, and the magnitude of those events has also increased, and therefore the cost of those events has increased.
If I take, for example, the first 25 years of this program, we would have an average of $10 million per year in disasters. This year alone we are having more than $600 million. That's why in Budget 2014 we have initiated a mitigation plan. This has been the outcome of an effort, a concerted effort, with the provinces and the federal government to make sure that we would come up with a mitigation measure. Our government has announced $200 million. This fund will be matched by the provinces as well, so it's a fund of $400 million. I'm eager to meet with my counterparts this June to see how we can unfold these investments to reduce and help mitigate the cost of those natural disasters.