Government Operations committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. My congratulations to you. It's nice that we've worked together in public accounts, and it's nice to see you sitting there as chair.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the invitation to appear before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates today to present on the estimates process by which Parliament reviews the estimates, or funds, requested by the government. It is an honour for me to be he

Government Operations committee  That's correct.

Government Operations committee  I have two things in response, Mr. Chair. As you know, Canada is a beacon for the world, and long may it continue to be a beacon for the world as far as democracy is concerned. Also, in many ways, when you look closely, it's perhaps not as vibrant and robust a year as it should

Government Operations committee  I would like to see the estimates committee, first of all, collectively study the mandate you now have in the Standing Orders under 108(3)(c), which is wide-ranging and virtually limitless. You can look at everything the government spends. You do not really need a change in the S

Government Operations committee  Don't get caught up with the budget. I agree with Mr. Marleau. It's a separate document, a policy document. But the plans and priorities now give you three years going on, so that you get this year's proposed spending in context. I made mention in my statement that the departme

Government Operations committee  I think you change the culture by changing the focus of the committee. Change the focus of the committee to evaluating programs, rather than looking at the estimates that have to go through the House by June—confidence applies, the government is standing absolutely firm, you beat

Government Operations committee  I would say step back from this hard political position on the estimates of this year and decide, as a committee, that you're going to review some programs over the next three to five years—not that dissimilar to what Mr. Marleau was saying. You'll find that this report, which

Government Operations committee  I would start, Mr. Chairman, by having an in camera meeting of the members to look at your standing order mandate. It is broad. It is wide-ranging. It covers all parts of government. You need to decide how you're going to examine government spending beyond just the estimates th

Government Operations committee  I think the PBO, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, can assist committees such as this one immensely. I agree with Mr. Marleau that he should be an officer of Parliament. I also think that making him an officer of Parliament means that he does not get stuck in limbo, wondering wha

Government Operations committee  Not Camelot, Mr. Chair.

Government Operations committee  It was partisan then, too.

Government Operations committee  I'm not an expert on the Australian system, but there is always the need and opportunity for review and evolution. Nobody, no particular Parliament, has it right. Our culture is different. Parliament is partisan, that is why we're here. We're here to debate, and hopefully come to

Government Operations committee  Absolutely, for two reasons. First, Parliament has an opinion. Of course, you're here because you have an opinion. You're here because you represent the opinions of the citizens who elected you. There is no guarantee that the government is all knowing, and has everything right.

Government Operations committee  The appropriations committee and the estimates committee are not that significantly different. You'll see in the 52 recommendations that we talked about the longevity, and improving the longevity, of the estimates committee, trying to build internal expertise among the MPs who si