So currently, we are relying on estimates. You must feel somewhat uncomfortable in your position. In fact, when you appeared in May 2008, you told us that your mandate included an important provision giving you the right to “... to free and timely access to any financial or economic data in the possession of the department that are required for the performance of his or her mandate.”
You have those powers. Are we to understand that the Privy Council, the departments and the people in this government overseeing financial activities are stripping you of your rights and thumbing their noses at parliamentarians? In fact, you must report to Parliament. In short, it seems that these people do not give a hoot about the requirement to report and to demonstrate a degree of transparency.