Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First I need to apologize to the witnesses. Last week as part of the committee hearings I had asked and telegraphed that I'd be able to move a motion. Unfortunately, the committee went in camera. I believe very strongly that we should be carrying out our committee business in public. It is the only way Parliament can hold government to account. So I will read that motion now:
That the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development travel to Attawapiskat First Nation no later than March 1, 2012, in order to review and assess the Government of Canada's response to the urgent situation facing that community.
We believe we need to know what's happening. The court has ordered that the funds be released to prepare those sites. The minister has stated that they were never frozen. I think it's extraordinarily important that this committee find out what is actually happening so we can do our jobs as parliamentarians and be able to find out what is indeed the truth.
I have moved that motion.