This is a more generalized question that I'll throw out to all the members of the panel. I represent some 33 or 34 municipal governments in my constituency. Two-thirds of my population is in Saskatoon. I have 16 or 17 RMs and roughly the same number of towns and most of them were doing infrastructure projects.
I've heard from a couple of them that are a little concerned, but appear to be getting it done. They're the most vocal. But I've also heard the fairness question from some of my other RM administrators and mayors: they've said that if they'd known that there was going to be an extension of six months or whatever, they would have put in for more projects. Some of them missed deadlines, because in Saskatchewan only a handful of engineers handle the small ones, so they were unable to compete.
How do I deal with the fairness question from RMs—towns and small cities—who say, “Look, if we'd known there was going to be more flexibility and an extension, we would have put in for more projects?” They say they would have gotten the projects these guys can't finish and could have gotten them done in the same time. How do I go back to them and say that we've moved the rules a little bit?
I know that you guys are just asking for some fairly reasonable flexibility. How does one deal with the fairness question in dealing with municipal governments with those questions?