Thank you, Madam Chair. I am sure I am not going to take the bait on the Minister's comment in reference that he does not understand why I do not get it. Madam Chair, there are 3,000 people in my riding that do not get it and another 3 or 4,000 in the Keewatin. Madam Chair, I understand what the Minister is saying. I understand what he is telling me, but what I am saying is that I do not agree with a lot of it. What the people are asking for, and I do not understand, we talked about community empowerment in this House, my viewpoint on that term just keeps getting lower and lower. People are asking to be consulted, and it is more just my home community of Arviat; and I can assure you Mr. Minister, that if there are only two minor problems you see after talking to the mayor of Arviat, it certainly does not coincide with the number of phone calls and the concerns that I have received in the last few days. I hope you are right. It would make my job a lot easier.
Madam Chair, I think for the most part for us to carry on with this line of questioning is like beating a dead horse. I think for the most part, what we have asked for is, for the Minister to consider a delay and in general, what we are talking about here, and we are getting off track, but this is a review of the Ministers and where we are going and where we came from and so on and so forth. It just feeds into my concerns that I raised in the House when I made my opening comments, about what I consider the lack of consultation and in some cases, sensitivity and compassion. The residents are not asking for the moon. They are asking to be consulted, a very basic democratic process. There are a lot of mixed messages here. We do not have firm cost savings laid out to us. We have approximates and so on, and as I have indicated, I am sure there are savings, but at what cost? For the amount of time it would take to satisfy the constituents and the various groups that are concerned about this, I do not think it is much to ask.
There is one final comment I would like to make, and it is in reference to, the Minister indicated that there were consultations and conversations regarding where NTCL stood on this and that they would have an option and that there were meetings and so on and so forth and they would be in the best position, or may have the edge in acquiring this or being successful in their bid on this work. By the same token I read today in a press release that NTCL, the president is stating that they are concerned because they have offered to present a package to the government to show what they can do, to offer their services at a reduced cost or whatever the details are and they have been told that their offer has been refused. So, maybe the Minister can explain that? I know he has indicated in the House that there have been conversations and these guys are onside, and they have a great opportunity here, but on the other hand NTCL state today that they are being refused the opportunity to offer their services. That Madam Chair, I conclude my comments and if the Minister wishes to answer that that is fine. Thank you.