I will come back to this in a moment, Mr. Chair, if I have time.
Let me turn for a moment to the question of financial officers. I think they play a very important role in the accountability process within departments. In fact, I'm not saying that because of the fact that the president of the Association of Canadian Financial Officers, Mr. Milt Isaacs, happens to reside in my riding. I'm actually quite proud of that. He made some very important statements to this committee last spring, when he said:
Our main concern is the possible impact of the freeze on operating budgets. The impact that concerns us most is that oversight will become an afterthought. Oversight is making sure that rules and regulations are followed.
He then talked about the role financial officers play in providing that oversight within departments. I can imagine the important role that CFOs play, and auditors and accountants play, within companies, for example, and obviously within government as well.
What is your view? Do you think that's important, that they not be cut or lost through attrition? What is your view about the importance of the financial officers within departments and agencies?