Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that many first nations communities face the same challenges in providing access to safe drinking water as do other small, remote or isolated communities, such as difficulties in finding and retaining qualified water treatment plant operators. The aboriginal demographics from the 2011 national household survey showed that 70% of first nations reserves had a population of fewer than 500 people and that 285 first nations reserves had fewer than 100 inhabitants.
That is why, being reasonable, we have this long-term action plan that is in effect. The amount of funds invested in water and waste water is unprecedented. It is close to $3 billion since we took office. As indicated in these estimates, we continue in the same direction to execute our action plan.