We have very strict guidelines in terms of the accounting. The government shifted its method of accounting a few years ago to accrual accounting so that we are in a position where the government collectively needs to inform Parliament on an accrual basis.
In the case of a capital expenditure, in the year the capital expenditure is made, we seek the full amount from Parliament. So for a $500-million asset purchase--that's a little large, a $50-million one might be more typical--we seek the $50-million spending authority. We, however, report on the impact on the government's financial position through the life of the asset according to accrual accounting methods. We need to do it both ways.
We are studying the extent to which we can better inform Parliament through the estimates, at a very detailed level, of both the accrual and the cash basis.
Right now, the budget is on accrual. The estimates are on modified accrual. That's one of our objectives for improved reporting to Parliament, to be able to give both kinds of information at a detailed level, without confusing parliamentarians.