Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his kind words, but I have to point out something to him. He has been in the House a long time. He is a member of the New Democratic Party. He is a good worker and fighter for the party, but he should understand that the minister was also a member of that party for quite some time. He worked in the provincial government. He was the premier, he was a minister and he did a great job. However, for some time he was a free agent. He received an offer to come into the big leagues and he accepted that offer. He is performing very well. To the members opposite, especially the new members, if they work hard and they prove themselves, maybe some day that will get that offer. A little advice, do not swing at every pitch.
It was two Parliaments ago that those very difficult decisions were taken. We might agree or might not agree with them, but I think we are all in agreement on the way to go forward.
It would be unjust to say that there was no caring or empathy for the people who were suffering. We have to look at the $500 million or more that was invested in working with the provinces so that services would be there for those people. Now we are at a new day. We have new capabilities and new information. We are looking very seriously, on a go forward basis, at compensation for those people.