Mr. Chairman, in response to the Member's comments, I think the department does champion, at Cabinet level, FMB level, the concerns of small communities, as far as capital funding and O and M funding is concerned. As a matter of fact, the most recent formula funding program shows major changes, as far as we are concerned, in the amount of funding the small communities are getting. Most communities received increases. I think it was only a small percentage of the whole that actually got decreases.

We have managed to increase the O and M funding. What we are working on now is trying to get increases from Cabinet, FMB towards capital funding for these small communities.

I must be realistic that it is going to be a long time before we see the streets paved with diamonds, because I think that even just to reach the stage where each community could enjoy hard top, that is going to be a while down the road yet, if we take into consideration all the other capital infrastructure the communities need. I am referring to arenas, curling rinks, whatever helps to increase or improve the lifestyle in the small communities. I support that 100 percent because I am from a small community as I said before. I am aware of the problems.

My department does take the trouble to go into the communities to see what is needed. We meet with the communities and we discuss their capitals. Like I said, we are in competition for funding with the other departments, but we definitely push for what we feel the communities need. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.