In the tripartite agreement which concerns us today, the third partner is Quebec. As you know, things are very often done a little differently in Quebec than elsewhere. I agree with you: the agreement between Canada and Quebec was slow to be signed.
I would like to come back to my own experience when I was the Mayor of La Pocatière. A little later, I will address the example you gave with respect to the PRECO. Previously, there was another program in place known as the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, or MRIF, which had three components to it. There as well, there were delays.
Do you not agree that once you sign an agreement, you should abide by the terms and conditions of that agreement, despite the fact that other factors may come into play that interrupt the normal course of events? When the MRIF was in effect, there were also elections being held. In La Pocatière, I delivered more than $20 million worth of projects during my four-year mandate. Dynamism is significant factor.
In terms of equity, what do you say now to the municipalities that decided not to apply because they felt they could not meet the March 31, 2011 deadline?