Thank you, Madam Chair, and my thanks to the witnesses who have come again today.
Before I get to my question, I have two comments I'd like to make along the line of timing. I find it unfortunate that we're expected to come and discuss this report with any degree of intelligence when it was placed on our desks as we arrived. I was wondering what the rationale is for having witnesses take up their morning prior to the committee being given at least a few minutes to talk about it.
The second comment I'd like to make is regarding the phantom positions. I think there's something to be said for the principle of deterrence. It would seem to me that at some point this committee and the Canadian public needs to have some names mentioned that will make sure this practice is stopped at this point.
My question relates to the national area of selection. I'm wondering if you could describe that briefly for me and also identify what types of positions you are describing at officer level. Who does that include? Is it deputy ministers, ADMs, and so on? At what level is this criteria put into place?