Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Michael, for clearing up some of the issues that were raised by my colleague just a moment ago with respect to some of the key things that were flawed with the mail program--the lack of efficiency and poor visibility among communities across the north. There may have been some that benefited, but there was certainly a disparity, and of course a lack of transparency, which often left consumers with not as much of a subsidy as they would have liked, if one at all really, and not knowing who to blame.
Some folks have suggested here at committee today, and indeed when we've been working through the report, that we should just throw up warehouses everywhere and build buildings. Now I'm hearing about additional space in homes for a program that otherwise has significant benefits. But particularly with the operators, Michael, there are a number of key features with respect to some of the problems we've seen already with the messaging of this.
You talked about the just-in-time concept, which those of us who are familiar with business recognize as a key driver for the modern ways of doing business. Obviously the sealifts issue was something that had something to do with inventory management and gave rise to some stories in the media about costs of certain products.
Can you just take this last minute or two to highlight some of the initiatives under this program for small-shop operators? This is key. Not all of the operators will be the North West Company. For example, there are smaller operators in isolated communities, particularly in the great riding of Kenora, who may benefit from some of this. I was wondering if you could just speak to some of the training initiatives for their benefit.