Mr. Speaker, we are no closer to any answers with that woefully inadequate response.
Let me tell the member what we do know. We know that the DFO has started procedures for decommissioning the ELA, at great cost. We know that no other organization has the resources to pay $50 million to decommission the ELA. We know that the transfer of the ELA to anyone else will require transition funding.
Time is running out. It is mid-February and the facility is scheduled to close on March 31 if no arrangements can be made to keep it open.
I have two simple questions. Will the government extend the March 31 deadline, as is clearly needed? If not, will the government at least commit to bridge financing to keep the ELA open for three to five years until a good partner can take over in an orderly fashion?