Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this time, I'd like to move the following motion, which reads:
That the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, as part of the study of the Estimates Process, report the following to the House: That the Committee is deeply concerned by the decision of the Treasury Board to delay the reports on Plans and Priorities until the week of May 7 and to withhold any information about the Strategic and Operating Review from those documents.
I won't speak for very long about this, but I will just speak briefly as to why I'm proposing this. I think this issue goes to the heart of what we are studying, because in what we are studying, we are trying to find ways for parliamentarians to improve their control over public spending. If the government has major cuts but doesn't tell us, then obviously we have no control over what's going on.
I would also point out that some seven years ago the Liberal government did a similar exercise, and all of the detailed cuts were reported in that year's budget. I don't think technology has regressed since 2005.
In response to Kelly Block, I cannot believe for one moment that bureaucrats alone would decide such a major change in how the budget was to be communicated. I think it has to have gone through the minister's office or the Prime Minister's office.
Finally, I would just say to the government side that I don't think it's necessary for you to make your usual move and move in camera.