Thank you very much.
I appreciate the minister coming here today. As the chair indicated earlier, this is the first step towards reviewing the main estimates as well as finalizing the supplementary estimates (C) review. We appreciate your taking the time to come here today.
Listening to your analogy of the glass of water, I thought of the Parliamentary Budget Officer when you were saying that. He's still thirsty, thinking there's a structural deficit and that we're going to have some time to work our way through that. I also note that you talked about taxes without actually raising taxes. I find that an interesting turn of phrase, especially having been a business person. We do see some tax increases throughout this budget.
I turn first to something this committee has actually studied, and this is concerning the departmental budget freeze. The main estimates show that this year the PCO will get just over $13 million over last year's budget, and that's for the Prime Minister and portfolio ministers' support and advice. I heard you in the House stating that this increase was for the upcoming G-8 and G-20 meetings. You used that as probably the foundation for having that increase. We do know that the G-8 and G-20 meetings will be over by this summer.
My question is very simple. It's a simple and direct question, and I'd like a succinct and direct response, if you can, knowing that I have only a few minutes. Will the PCO departmental budget be frozen at the 2009-10 level or at the inflated 2010-11 amount?