Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Mr. Minister.
One of the reasons or pretty well the only reason the government enjoys provisional support of the official opposition is that we agree that Canada needs fiscal stimulus, monetary stimulus, and your budget provides about $6 billion in fiscal stimulus. The parliamentary budget officer said at these hearings a couple of weeks ago that the lapse rate of the Government of Canada in terms of last year's fiscal infrastructure projects was about 50%. In other words, about 50% of the money went out the door, and 50% simply got rolled back into the program.
It's not very encouraging, Minister, so what assurances can you provide this committee that in fact the speed, which is the basis of your argument to pass this budget, will in fact happen this time when it didn't happen last year?