Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Minto, I want to come back to the question I asked you in the beginning concerning small and medium businesses and the role of your office.
I listened to your answers. You are an ombudsman, but mostly a negotiator, a facilitator. You try to see to it that small and medium businesses don't get too mad at the government and you see to it that they can do business with the government. Moreover, you also try to see to it that Public Works not be seen in too bad a light in the awarding and administration of contracts.
Personally, this bothers me a great deal. You have had some 110 complaints that draw my attention. Those 110 complaints were from small and medium businesses that were not satisfied with the awarding and administration of contracts. That's pretty peculiar.
You say that in your report you specified, and this was heard on CBC news, all of the difficulties that small and medium businesses face. Of course, there is a trust issue, but there is also the problem that derives from the fact that Public Works staff is not able to answer them, to inform them, or to award and manage contracts properly. You must admit that this is a somewhat unusual situation.
What do you think of this? As ombudsman, are you going to spend your time negotiating and facilitating the work?