Thank you.
I understand the desire to be a little bit politic, given that there is still an expectation of projects being approved and hope for more money. We're hearing pretty clear evidence and serious concern about significant delays resulting from the matching process. We also heard, and made, loud and clear calls for a gas-tax-type approach, specifically to avoid the delays we're hearing about. Today we're hearing confirmation that there have been significant delays in getting shovels to ground. Despite all of the warnings that delays would result from insisting on a matching project, this is exactly what happened.
With all due respect, we have been asking for a list of projects, with details on what has actually been spent, what has actually broken ground. On air the other day, I was promised by another Conservative member that I would get my list of the projects. We have been asking for months; we have not found a list. I'm hoping we can get information from the FCM, not a repeat of what the government has been saying without any evidence to back it up.
So far we have from you that only a third of the projects that were announced have been started. Half of the two-year time limit has now been lost, and there's been confirmation from you that if you don't meet the 2011 deadline for completion, then the municipality in question will be on the hook. I don't know about you, but that means I can't budget. It means I have a real question about whether to undertake a project next construction season, if I don't think I can finish it.
The conclusion I can't avoid is that this government has been happy to get the benefit of all of these thousands of announcements, knowing that at least two-thirds may not ever happen. If the money doesn't flow, come spring, lo and behold, this government might look a little more fiscally positive than their present projections would lead us to expect. I think that's pretty damning. We're looking at municipalities that have asked for help and Canadians that have asked for jobs to be created.
It sure looks to me as though this has all been more PR than job creation. So I will ask if you have any further information. We're not getting anything from the government. We would like to have details on the projects that have actually been approved, the projects that have started to break ground. We'd like to know where we stand. We want to know exactly how many jobs have been created. It's not enough for us to get a repeat of what the government is telling us, because what the government is telling us is not a hell of a lot.
I throw that open to anybody who can give me more detailed information about projects. I understand you have to be politic. You don't want to bite the hand that feeds you, but we're trying to get to the bottom of this.