Mr. Chair, the minister seems to be suggesting that this was too small a cut to worry about. To people involved in literacy it is a huge cut. We recently completed a report in the human resources committee on employability. Sue Folinsbee of the National Adult Literacy Database said:
Federations have been successful partners in workplace literacy partnerships. Their work and these successful examples of provincial partnerships should be strengthened and enhanced, not cut.
I think that the money taken from literacy was an abomination to people who are struggling to gain literacy achievements in Canada.
I see the minister of national defence is here. A couple of weeks ago there was a big announcement made on defence in Halifax. I would like to ask the minister: Who made the submission to Treasury Board that resulted in the Prime Minister's announcement of allegedly $30 billion? Was it the Prime Minister or the Minister of National Defence?