I believe that given the fact that those communities were living in a minority situation, they should have been given particular attention. However, during the last 13 years, the government set up extremely expensive programs that became wasteful and made the headlines many times.
As to Mr. Diouf, he publicly said several times that he was satisfied with the interventions made by myself and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. MacKay, in addition to the conversation he had with the Prime Minister. In my opinion, the matter is closed. Given his stature, we must be respectful of his wishes, and consider the events a thing of the past.
As for our major orientations, I will not elaborate on them until we finish consulting communities. Regardless of what the honourable member for St. Boniface says, communities do not appear to be at all fed up with consultations. I believe that they are extremely enthusiastic with the idea of being heard through this new approach.