Well, we certainly don't want to be adding zeros to some of these numbers. It's an exorbitant amount, Madam Chair, and your constituents will be proud of the work you've done to represent their needs with these infrastructure funds.
Anyway, that's not so much for your edification, gentlemen, but because I think it is important to correct the record. We know there are people in the media who are clear about the facts, but we don't want the public who are watching these events to be left with any misunderstanding. I'm sure the honourable member would correct the record, especially since it was an NDP government with which our government negotiated the investments in his riding and province. As a matter of fact, I have three pages of investments for the Manitoba communities that he represents.
Having said that, I'll move on to other discussions, as I do want to talk about a number of things.
We've had a number of comments regarding the timeline. Obviously there is a requirement that this money be spent in a timely way. That is part of the initiative and part of what makes it stimulus. If we continue to drag out the deadline, it's no longer stimulus; the money will get spent when the money gets spent and the jobs will not be created now. Our government has been very focused on ensuring that the jobs are created now, and I know you all appreciate that. That's one of the challenges as we approach this impending deadline.
My understanding--and you can correct me if I'm wrong--is that 75% of the projects planned for this construction year were started as of September 1. That was a month ago, and the report to our government was that 75% of the projects that municipalities committed to starting this year were already under construction or in the process of being under way. Are you familiar with that statistic? That information might be helpful as you undertake your analysis.