And you're out of time.
Mr. Warkentin, I know you have some information you'd like to give us. If you give me one minute, I'd like to wrap up some things. Then we'll take that information.
As Mr. Martin indicated, this is the committee that reviews the way government spends money. For any government, whichever label it carries, it is important that taxpayers understand and are comfortable that there is an oversight. That's what this committee does.
We called you as the stakeholders of or the beneficiaries of some part of the infrastructure funding. Whatever information you give or do not give us, this is how the committee will proceed. It is in your best interest to give as much information as you possibly can to us. That's your prerogative. It's the committee that can ask you the questions, and if you don't supply the information, the committee does not have any more things to do then. Then it says, “Fine, that's what they want.”
But you represent large municipalities and small municipalities. It's your membership that you're representing. It's your membership that's being affected by these investments.
For example, were you aware that the government had demanded $3 billion way back in March that they wanted to give to projects that were shovel-in-the-ground-ready projects? Nothing happened. That money went back to the consolidated revenue fund. So if you are familiar with it.... Then the money got rolled over to the other funding. That's what public finance is: if you commit and do not utilize, it goes back. Then another budget comes. That is why the questions you've been asked were so direct.
What I would suggest is that in your closing remarks, if you have any additional information from your membership that has been rolled out to you as to the number of jobs that have been created.... It says there'll be 220,000 jobs created, or 190,000 jobs created. Has your membership indicated to you the number of people that they have employed or that the municipality has invested in? If you have that information, that would be good. If you don't have that information, I'm sure Mr. Warkentin has some information that he'll supply.
But I'll give you another example. Mr. Warkentin said my riding had investment. I did a photo op with my counterpart, and I got calls to my constituency saying that has not happened: the province put up the money, but the feds have not given the money. Those are the things people are dancing around saying, “What is the reason we're not getting the funds?” It was supposed to stimulate the economy. Did it stimulate the economy? You do not know because stimulation is an economic thing, as economists will say.
In your closing remarks, then, would you take the liberty of giving us as much information as you can?
Who will be speaking for FCM?
Mr. Cunningham, you will supply us information later?
Yes, Mr. Jean.