Mr. Chair, I won't take too long. With the indulgence of the committee, I will allow you a question at the end. I understand that you may have one.
I wanted to clarify for Mr. Carrie the importance of the policy that he related to you with regard to long distance. I find it rather ironic. In 1988, resellers were allowed to get into long distance. In 1992, facilities-based companies were allowed to come in. In 1997, five years later, the rate was deregulated. After that, the incumbents' shares dropped about 70%. There was no government interference. This was driven by the CRTC. This model is one that the government is now clearly rejecting.
It's the very essence of what I'm saying. The CRTC was successful in getting long-distance competition, but they're not prepared to allow the same plan to work for local rates.
Let me ask you this question. How are you going to tell your consumers this if this plan goes unamended, done by order in council, not by Parliament? If this committee is not successful in getting the message out, what is the message you now have to give to your consumers, given what you've described to us as clearly being a rather dire consequence?