I'm happy to correct the record. You said staff in my department are the ones who have to approve the project. That is not the case. Under the Financial Administration Act, it's required to go before a group of elected ministers, members of the Treasury Board. Treasury Board itself is composed of six cabinet ministers who are ultimately responsible for approving the project. So the project is not approved by the secretariat. By law it is required to go in front of ministers for a decision.
On April 1st, 2008. See this statement in context.