Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Just for the record again, I really want to clear up the issue of the global fund. Canada increased its commitment to the global fund recently. We have been up-to-date on all of our commitments. The call needs to go out to other global fund donors to ensure that they participate in the same way Canada has.
On the issue of payment, I hesitate to say this, but the reality is that we had debate in the House on the estimates. The estimates were held up in Finance by considerable argument, shall we say. We were anxious to see them go through, but the government cannot spend money until the estimates have been passed by Parliament. We were beholden to the opposition members to participate in getting those estimates passed so we could continue to spend the money Canada has committed.
As far as front-loading, it has to be recognized that the government needs to have its own revenue stream. Our commitments to the global fund, along with any other commitments we have made, are part of the estimates we have to pass in the House of Commons. So when those quarterly estimates come up, it is important that our opposition members understand they are part of the process of getting that money into the hands of those to whom we have made those commitments. I think it's important that the public understand that part of this puzzle.
I am turning this back to my colleague now. I needed to put that on the record.