Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport.
On November 22, when asked why people in the Magdalen Islands had been waiting since 1994 for the federal government to buy a new ferry, the minister refused to reply, claiming he was not aware of the case. However, over two years ago, his department set aside $30 million to replace the ferry, and the minister is now sitting on this money instead of responding to the needs of the people in the Magdalen Islands.
Now that he has had two more weeks to read a file that has been on his desk for two years, could the minister tell us why he does not go ahead and buy the new ferry as requested by all groups in the Magdalen Islands?