I think that is because of the estimates process. For example, for the 2009-10 year, the main estimates have to actually be in and finalized by the end of September 2008. When you have timelines like that, there are things that can occur, for example, after September 2008 that would affect our 2009-10 year. So the supplementary estimates, which normally occur three times a year, give departments an opportunity to come back to Parliament to get supplementary funds.
In PCO's case in particular, we do tend to come back quite frequently because of the inquiries we have. We don't always know when they're going to be announced. We have no real control over when they will finish. Although a commission may be set up—a commission of inquiry with a particular date—it may get extended and we may not know that in time to actually get it into the main estimates. We always try to get everything we can into mains, but it's not always possible.
For example, we will be facing that right now with the new Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of the Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River. That commission of inquiry has been launched; however, we have missed the window of opportunity for supplementary estimates (C). So whatever expenditures they make this year, we will have to absorb them somehow within our voted funds.