I would just like to repeat that we are not against new groups obtaining funding, or against new projects. The projects are valid; that is not the problem. What we are against is that this is being done on the backs of the groups that are already in place. In the past, when groups were in danger of losing their funding, the process sometimes extended over several years, because they were given a chance to adjust. As I understand it, if they did not adjust after a certain time, the funding was withdrawn. But we had no prior indication that we were going to lose our funding.
It is true that our relationship with the staff in the regions is important and the one we know best. Unfortunately, the minister does not come to our regions very often, and we understand that she does not have the time to do so. The staff in the regional offices are the ones who really know the groups.