Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Page, I could relate when you said that you could scarcely imagine how a new parliamentarian would feel on the day he gets the big blue book containing the main estimates. I can certainly speak to the terror I felt. I was pretty much scared stiff and in a panic when I saw that extremely complicated book.
Then today, I realize that it may have nothing to do with the budget presented in the same time period. This series of budgetary approvals that spirals over 18 months keeps us completely in the dark. It is a complete and utter shambles and we have no way of knowing what stage we are at, what is supposed to have been spent, what has actually been spent and if it is part of this year's budget or last year's. The system is extremely poorly put together.
You say that, for clarity, the estimates should be linked to the budget in a small chart. I feel that really is the basic question at the root of the current problems. I come back to the question of timing and the calendar.
Do you think that bringing down the budget in the fall is a good solution that would bring the two together? What other interesting options could be considered in order to achieve that objective?