Mr. Minister, as far as vote 35 is concerned, I agree with you that things have been accelerated and the schedule moved forward. This was done precisely because everyone agreed that we were facing a major crisis.
The Treasury Board, along with all other departments... You do not seem to appreciate the concrete difference between authorized funds and commited funds. I understand that Treasury Board can accelerate things and quickly give its authorization. However, there is a difference between authorizing funds and tangibly allocating funds. That is the problem we are currently facing.
What makes you believe that the departments have tangibly allocated the funds to the projects that you have authorized? That is the basic question that parliamentarians want answered. Ms. Hall Findlay as well as others have said that the funds were authorized, but have the departments really spent a red penny? Can you confirm for me that departments have already spent funds that we authorized one, two or three weeks ago?
I agree with you that Treasury Board has accelerated things and authorized significant sums, but concretely, which department has spent any of the amounts committed? Canadians and Quebeckers want answers.