Apples to apples--that's real competition. I think you need to have that open. Even in the construction industry they structure themselves, with the bidding process they have in their construction associations, so there is that honesty and you can test the marketplace effectively. I think we've gone down a very dangerous road here.
We had similar testimony regarding the IT services for the Government of Canada. Some of the small contractors came to this committee and said it almost seemed that the government had bundled the work into a package so large that only a select few companies could compete.
SNC-Lavalin is like the Wal-Mart of engineering, in a sense. I think it undermines and defeats small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from taking part in all the procurement of government services out there for building management.
I don't know if I have any further questions, other than to say I'm very sympathetic to the facts you've brought to us here and to your situation as a small, honest, local businessman who would like to be able to participate directly with the federal government.
I can tell you that when we write this report I will be in support of Mr. Nadeau's position that we should revisit the awarding of these government maintenance contracts to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses like yours have a fair opportunity to deal directly with the federal government.
If I have any time left I will share it with my colleague, Mr. Nadeau, if he has any other questions.