All right. Let's hope that this time you don't create any false hopes; indeed, there have been a lot of dashed hopes on this subject. I can tell you that the situation at our offices is pretty pathetic, because people come to us as a last resort. When a person has waited three or four months to receive benefits, they've had time to find a job. Very often, then, their application is no longer considered urgent. As a result, there are huge delays before any follow-up.
I'd like to talk to you about another file that I imagine is part of your responsibilities and concerns federal public service employees. This is the Phoenix payroll system. I think this is a firm commitment. Although the system was not ordered by your government, you've been in power for eight years and it's chaos. We read unbelievable things about this system, which has a negative impact on the people, the employees, who provide services on a daily basis and who do not receive fair compensation from their employer, the federal government. According to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, there are still 400,000 problem cases. We know that agreements have had to be made to try to correct arrears.
Seriously, Minister, when will we, once and for all, restore a reliable and fair payroll system for your workers?