Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for joining us and for your presentation, Mr. Fréchette.
I would like to turn to the report you wrote about the main estimates. You came back to a problem that seems to me to keep happening. I am talking about the lack of accountability and the significant differences between what are called the main estimates and the budget announced by the government.
You pointed out that the two processes are moving further and further apart and that we are now in a situation where only 85% of the budget is explained in the main estimates, a percentage that is constantly going down.
You also pointed out the different accounting methods used in the main estimates, where general accounting per se can be clearly seen, and in the budget announced by the government.
Could you tell me what purpose parliamentarians currently serve? Is it possible for us to properly analyze government expenses or is this an exercise that is becoming more and more futile?