I imagine you will say the same thing about the fact that there was a significant decrease in infrastructure expenses between 2004 and 2005. We're talking about a decrease of $300 million. In 2024, the amount was carried forward to the following year, but the next year, it became apparent that $300 million less had been spent.
Obviously, infrastructure and housing should have been this government's political priority for at least two or three years. It seems to have become the priority in the House of Commons. What the figures are revealing is that less and less money is being spent. Is that because the approval times at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are too long?
When I go out in the field, that's what I am told. There are always some nice surprises in store, such as the efficiency of an energy program. That's a major issue. Quebec's housing codes aren't recognized, and further delays are added. People go and check approvals. That's the case for the Maison d'hébergement l'Émeraude, in my region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. When construction began, an authorization had to be redone to say that the site did in fact comply with environmental standards. Why didn't that happen earlier, when the time was right?
All of that adds delays. All of that adds costs and pressure for the organizations that have to manage this. I think you have a responsibility there. Why did things end up like this, and why isn't this money being spent? Is the reality of regions' northernness being taken into account? Does that add constraints that increase bureaucracy and make it harder to establish projects in the regions?