You realize, of course, that the real reason we brought you here was not so much that we didn't understand how it worked, but because there have been some real problems in people getting paid. That's been a challenge. We can't blame Treasury Board, because if they don't get the information, they can't issue the cheques properly. That's really what was at the bottom of the request we made.
While I know Public Works has said they were catching up on a backlog of about 2,000, I wondered whether you looked more closely at this and where the problems really lie. We've had a lot of correspondence that says the bulk of the problems were in those departments where they have become more specialized. But I'm not sure where this is.
Frankly, it's been very disturbing to hear that someone who had an acting position, maybe for one month in December, and here it is now the month of June and they still haven't been paid the extra for that acting position. Most people who work for the public service are not rich. If they are expecting to receive some money, it would be nice if they received it. There have been a lot of stories like this across the public service.
I think it's our job as a committee to make sure the government is operating properly and doing the basics, which is paying our employees. It's very disturbing when I hear that the lowest of the low are not receiving their paycheques, that somehow there's a problem, and when you call they tell you there's a problem and they're working on it. If you don't pay your income tax to the Government of Canada, the day after, you're penalized and you're charged interest.
I think we have to make sure our people are paid, and quickly and right away and in the right amount. That's really what brought this about.