Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the honourable Member is making reference to one specific transaction this government has made. This department has done many different contracts and lease arrangements throughout the whole Northwest Territories and has been doing so for many years. Personally, I do not think it is a political embarrassment, as far as I know, because I have been studying this particular case ever since I became Minister of Public Works and Services. I am assured, in talking to the deputy minister and his staff about how this particular lease was handled, as far as I am concerned, Mr. Chairman, it was done in a very businesslike manner. The department followed all the different requirements they had to. They even had legal advice.

At the time the decision was made to renegotiate the existing lease and at the same time, immediately after that, this business was sold, and the former owners walked away from the table when they moved back down south with a substantial profit, as I understand. At the same time, it was unknown this particular deal would have attracted so many questions by the media, as well as, in this House. It was unknown at the time when they were negotiating, this was going to happen. It is hard to say in hindsight, what should have been done.

The leases have been renegotiated and they are legal documents. They are in place right now. I am trying to answer all the questions on this particular case in question period and during this budget. It was a good business deal. I have said it time and time again. I even provided documents. However, if it is a politically sensitive case, how do we handle it? How are we going to handle it? If we were to do it again, I would say that the department would be instructed to try to get the best deal for this government and it probably would have gone the same way it did. Thank you.