Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll see how much time I take here, but there are a few things I'd like to get on the record.
One, I'm very excited about Mr. Martin being as big a fan of Wal-Mart as he is. I, like the minister, am quite impressed. Many in his party should come to embrace Wal-Mart the way he has.
I'm also impressed with the opposition generally today. I think the more time they focus on the economy, that's wonderful. The economy should be the central issue in the next election campaign, and if the Canadian public focuses on the economy as much as the opposition has, the Conservative Party will be elected with a larger number of seats. So I think that's fantastic.
I'd like to ask the two ministers two particular questions.
One, Minister Merrifield, I know that Alberta does not have many opposition MPs. If memory serves me correctly, I think we have only one. But if you have any information with regard to how the opposition MPs—or MP—in the province in Alberta have felt they've been treated, it would be lovely if you could tell us. I'm sure they must have some thoughts with regard to how they're being treated in the province of Alberta—that one NDP member in the opposition.
For our other minister today, I'm going to ask the question, and I'm sure he'll be caught up with regard to what's happening.
As far as another opposition riding is concerned, I know that at our last committee meeting I talked about the LRT program that's going on in the city of Toronto. Our chair, who's also a member of the opposition, expressed surprise. She didn't know, for example, that there is $333 million--and I'll add $330,000 on top of that--being spent for the LRT extension.
If I can quote, I said, “I don't hear the chair or the opposition members taking issue with $333 million being spent in her riding in Don Valley East.”
The chair's response was, “There's $333 million?” Then I said, “For the LRT expansion.” And she said, “In my riding?”
So I wonder if maybe--