Government Operations committee  I appreciate your concern. Certainly we've tried extensively to be consulted on this matter. In the last week or so, things have progressed very quickly. We did have meetings lined up with many members to discuss our concerns. Unfortunately, I was able to participate on only one

Government Operations committee  I just wanted to add that it does indeed appear as though there is favouritism for large integrators. The fact of the matter is that we're not being consulted enough. We're just not getting the time the large integrators are with the senior bureaucrats. We've asked; in fact, at

Government Operations committee  There have been a number of points made. I'd like to say that I take particular offence to Mr. Kramp's point about whining—in light of the fact that there are families at risk here, mine particularly. I suggest to you that the solution you refer to is exactly what SME brings. S

Government Operations committee  I just wanted to add that we also attended a presentation that was put on by Marshall Moffat at the Canadian Management Centre. We were bewildered to learn that in fact the gentleman would be retiring in six months. Really, he was then a bit of a lame duck from our perspective. W

Government Operations committee  I can't answer that directly. I know that ultimately my employees would not be the only ones affected. There would be a tremendous number of companies that would be affected, all potentially hitting the street. So there is no doubt, as I said in the previous response, that if the

Government Operations committee  No, just in Ottawa.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  Approximately 40 employees, yes.

Government Operations committee  Well, my company is at risk of closure, so potentially all the employees, myself included, would be looking for new employment. I would hope that somehow I could find a way around that. But no doubt a certain number of my employees would be affected. It's pretty much as simple as

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mike. My name is Jeff Lynt and I own a small business in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. I live on the Quebec side and employ approximately 40 people. The government's proposed changes will either force me to lay off a number of my employees and subcontractors or become