Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I didn't really want to speak on the motion, but since we've seen now the action of the government, I think it's incumbent on us to consider what that action has meant to the municipalities. The failure to move forward with this extension has probably led many municipalities into a situation where they're in winter works now, where they're going to be spending more money than they would normally have had to in order to accomplish the work.
If we'd had some indication of this a little earlier.... I think that's the problem that has been created with this delay in this announcement, which I was confident that at some point in time we would see, because at some point in time this government would have to act logically. I'm glad to see that it's finally caught up to that. But that still doesn't mean the municipalities have not suffered through this process. I think that's the case.
Mr. Chair, I first spoke about this issue in February 2009 in the House of Commons, when I questioned Minister Flaherty on the deadline. The issue has been around since they put the program in place. I think this government's reaction has been very slow. It has been very difficult. I have to commend this committee for the work it has done, because it has recognized the importance of this and has helped to put the pressure on the government to make this change.