I've been before our committee under the estimates as a minister, and the members at that time did not stick to what was in the supplementary estimates. I've always experienced the questioning as very broad. It's one of the few opportunities for parliamentarians to question officials from the department. Of course, it's nice when you can have a minister here answering questions and being held accountable. But it's rare to have that, or even to have officials. Members ought to have the opportunity to ask a broad array of questions.
On December 1st, 2011. See this statement in context.