Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, this is great news if our recommendations to the circumpolar ambassador has resulted in the Canadian Prime Minister persuading the American President to change the historic opposition of the US to the Arctic Council. I think this is great news and it is the first that I've heard of this breakthrough. I'm quite delighted with the Minister's response.

I guess I'd like to ask, generally, about circumpolar relations and about the ministry's role. I'm frankly concerned that circumpolar relations have not been given the priority lately that they should have been. I know full well that there has been major fiscal issues and government reorganization has been a preoccupation of the current government, but I am concerned that protocols and agreements that have been signed with Greenland, for example, and with the Sakha Republic may not have been given the attention that they should have been in recent years.