Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I would like to welcome the minister and our guests.
Minister, this is the first time in 15 months that our paths have crossed. We know that in theory, you exist somewhere. You have a rather important portfolio. It is a good thing that we are able to meet with you today. Here is my first question.
Last week, Minister, we had the President of the Treasury Board here, and we established quite clearly that the Conservative government was spending at three times the rate of inflation, and as a matter of fact, on $54 billion of the $220 billion, spending at an increase of close to 12%.
When it comes to the proceeds of the sale of these buildings—if it's $1.5 billion or $1.6 billion—what do you plan to do with these funds? Are you planning to return them to the consolidated revenue fund? You can imagine that there's a bit of a concern on behalf of some members, I can say, that we don't need to add another $1.5 billion to the dangerous spending that's going on already.