Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, committee members and colleagues.
First, I'd like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg.
At your request, I appear before you today to discuss the selection of the design for the National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan.
My presentation will be shorter than the five minutes you have allotted me.
I must say that the Department of Canadian Heritage played a strictly administrative and support role in this project.
The department shared its expertise on the organization of the design competition with Veterans Affairs Canada, and that is why I am going to yield to my colleague, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, who will explain why the government has made this decision.
Thank you very much.