Mr. Chair, that certainly would be a possibility. Of course it depends on the evaluation and also the competitive process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that running a program of this kind is a very particular task. Where this current service provider has amassed this expertise as well as the skilled staff, I certainly would encourage the department to have the information in hand about continuing the contract sooner rather than later so that they can make that decision without there being layoff notices and a shutdown of the program if in fact it looks like it is worth continuing. So that is a comment.

My next question is if the evaluation shows that the program should not be continued in that form, what is the next step? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Mr. Chair, the government is committed of course to funding these types of organizations because it has been clearly identified that this is a very important area, if I could put it that way, in our society and we do need this help. However, it may be that the program has to be redesigned. We would find that out after the assessment of the program is done. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. My hope is that there is as little interruption in this program as possible. I also have some questions on integrated case management. Maybe I should let my other colleagues have a turn first. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to just follow-up on Ms. Green's questioning in regards to this program. We are going to evaluate it. How long is the stoppage of offering this type of program or a similar program in this area? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Mr. Chair, our clear objective is to not have any gap in providing this service. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my question is, if you are evaluating now, is the evaluation going to be done before the program stops in December and that you will have another program ready to go March or January 1st? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Mr. Chair, we have already started the evaluation and we are hoping to get that done in the fall. before the end of the current contract. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are you making a commitment that this program or a similar program will be ready to go on January 1stso that there is no lapse? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Mr. Chair, we would certainly hope that there would be no gaps, that there would be a seamless transition if I could put it that way. It does depend somewhat on the evaluation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is the department willing to continue working with the present organization that is running this program, if there is going to be a lack in offering the program -- getting the report done by December 31st, will you work with this organization to continue to run this program until such time as the new program or this is enhanced? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Mr. Chair, we are hoping that the appraisal of the program, the evaluation of the program, will be completed by the mid-fall, perhaps October, November. If there are issues, we certainly are not going to abandon the field, as it were. We are committed to having this program or this type of program in force. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.