Yes, I realize that, Minister, but there was only one such forum and that is what I'd like you to talk about. Are you prepared to acknowledge that this forum was particularly well-suited for meetings of the two parties at the national level, and provided an opportunity to cover a whole range of topics, such as those you have invited us to address this morning? But in response to your invitation, I'd like to talk about the real issues.
And I would like you to answer the following question: was the rationale for this decision, as the memo from Treasury Board and the Finance Department suggests, a belief that this organization served no useful purpose and that you had to cut the fat? If that's the case, then the parties should know that. They are very concerned about no longer having access to this national forum for discussion.