Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Ferguson.
I listened to the officials from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and I have the sinking feeling that they are completely in denial.
In section 6.48 of your report, you indicated that there was no decrease in the cost, but rather an increase. The department official said that the commercial information was too sensitive to be released. However, you dismissed that argument in section 6.32.
In terms of whether the full subsidy is actually being passed on, in section 6.28, you refute the statement of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada officials.
The department official is still talking about an increase in volume. However, in section 6.43, you said that the number of kilograms of food transferred decreased. That means that nutrition is not being improved and that the amount of food is being reduced.
In section 6.20, you said that it would cost $7 million to give about 50 communities full access and that 5% will not be sufficient to address the food shortage in those communities.
I find your criticism quite harsh in your conclusion, in sections 6.57 and 6.58. I feel that there is some denial. In light of the testimony you have heard, am I completely wrong to think that? Are there in fact two contradictory stories?