First of all, I'd like to thank the committee for taking the opportunity to get out there and look at this issue and come up with a report.

My big concern, and I've heard this from numerous people in the southern part, is that some regions get negotiated contracts, and other regions do not; especially on the big projects. They are really concerned about that. I've seen two projects in the south that would have cost $17 million for two projects that went down south. Limited, and I mean limited employment, and it saved the government $982,803.41. That's what it saved the government. The government was willing to let $16,645,870.60 go down south. There may have been a little bit of work for Northerners there, but limited.

Again, what we are seeing is depending on what region you are in is where the program is going, and where the negotiated contract is and sole source. I think that government needs to be looking at how it has an impact when we are offering these big contracts. If we don't spend the money in the territory, we are going to see companies leave. With the cost of living, they can't afford to do it.

That also, then, means that jobs are going to go away. If jobs go away, social income becomes more prevalent, which has an impact on families. It saddens me that this government doesn't see this. They see the bottom line. They see some money being saved, and that's all it is.

When I talk to businesses in the riding I represent and companies in the south, they are very concerned. The economy is going bad in the south, so we are seeing contractors from down south come up with their own accommodations, their own food, their own fuel, and hiring limited people working on projects. You see companies from up here watching these people doing the work that could have been done by us.

Again, I would like to thank the committee for the work that they did in getting the surveys out. From my understanding, there were 19 responses. I think that the committee did a great job, and they have some good recommendations moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.