Madam Speaker, the hon. member has asked a number of questions. Excellent questions, to be sure, but they make certain suppositions which are not completely correct.
First, the initial endowment was not $1 billion or $1.1 billion. It was made in three phases, according to the agreements. The first was some $100 million, the second $600 million, and the third another $100 million.
The organization wants to have an Infoway system in place by 2009, which will meet the needs of about half the population of Canada. As I was saying in my speech just earlier, we are in the planning phase. These funds are invested, that is true. We have found the best possible return. We now have $180 million in commitments for 90 projects. However, I do not know whether or not all the money has been paid out at this point.
The hon. member asked me certain questions about administrative expenses. These are excellent questions. I am sure that the president and the vice-president of Infoway will be happy to appear before parliamentary committees to respond to such questions, since they know the answers.
How is this program being managed? As I was saying, it is managed by all the provincial and territorial partners. The deputy ministers are members of the board of directors, and private-sector regulations are used. These people have certain knowledge and certain skills. I am sure that they are asking these questions and verifying these things. An external audit is being done.
As for the question on the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, unfortunately I do no know the details. However I will be happy to take note of this so that I can provide the hon. member with the information later.
The hon. member was also asking whether I support the having the Auditor General to conduct an audit. I am sure that all the jurisdictions involved, the provinces and territories, will want their auditor general to be in charge of the audit. This is, however, not a federal organization, but an organization which is responsible equally to all of the jurisdictions. Therefore the terms of the audit will be as they wish. Thus far, there has been unanimous consent on all of the planning details. So I will not impose my preferences. These people are doing excellent work. As has been said many times now, I am sure that they will be happy to appear before the committees concerned.