Thank you, madam Chair.
Like my colleague, I want to thank you for providing us with explanations about matters which are quite complex, you'll have to admit.
First of all, if my colleagues agree, after you answer my questions, I would like you to talk about the whole issue of the Governor General's special warrants. The clerk of the committee has asked for some documents. Members of the committee have the duty to scrutinize the amount requested by the government in order to ensure that all moneys are spent appropriately.
Coming back to what is referred to as the Annual Reference Level Update, you state on page 5 that it allows the realignment of funds between activities. If it was a realignment between very different activities, or if activities changed significantly, I suppose you would come back to Parliament to ask for an authority. I guess you would not start with one thing and end up with something completely different.
Third, I would like to know what would happen if there was a reduction of the Estimates, instead of an increase, for example if there were major cuts in the Public Service. I am thinking here of what happened in the nineties. Public Works Canada might also decide to sell some buildings, which could lead to major savings. What would be the effect of that? We always talk about increased expenditures but, if there was a reduction, what would be the process? I'm sure that there are rules for that also.
My next question will seem a bit naïve about, when a government tables a Budget, as it just did, this Budget is a subject to a vote but there will be a delay before we get all the details. We know what the overall figures may be but, if I understand correctly, we will not get the details before Fall.
I will conclude with an example that is dear to my heart but there might be others. In my region, some wharves need to be repaired. When will I be able to tell people in my region that the amounts have been appropriated? How will that appear in the Estimates? How will we be able to get detailed information about that? This may seem quite mundane but it is extremely important for people at the local level.
Thank you very much.