Thank you, Chair.
What we are dealing with here is a $4 billion infrastructure fund announced in Budget 2009 and with cheque presentations as this is being rolled out. It's continuously being rolled out, so we're dealing with a current and ongoing situation.
I can understand our colleague Mr. Poilievre's interest in going back in history. Perhaps the Library of Parliament can be helpful, going back to the times of Sir John A. Macdonald and going through government after government, but I really don't think that the public is interested in a historical lesson. Perhaps it's time for him, if he has such an interest, to privately study this; he has the resources, through the Library of Parliament. I'm sure there are historians who have looked into these issues of previous prime ministers and what they have conducted.
We have a serious issue at hand and before us at the present time: a $4 billion infrastructure fund that's being pushed out the door. We're not talking, as I said, about problems that may arise because of the speed with which this is being done. That's for a later time, for the public accounts committee to take a look at. It's a pattern of abuse of an ongoing, unprecedented $4 billion infrastructure program; this is what needs to be looked at. This is what Canadians expect us to do at the present time, not go back into history. We are to do work that's of current relevance.
I will not be supporting the subamendment.