In an ideal world I think it would be better not to use this word “deemed”. I think deemed puts a bitter taste in people's mouths, a certain perception of losing things. On the other hand, Parliament needs to move on with its work.
I think if committees were to take a focused approach to the estimates, they could provide reports and should provide focused reports on one or two particular items in the estimates that they feel are important. That would be their report. We would not then have to deem it, and that report would be submitted before the deadline. Parliament would then be better served; I think it would be well served in that the committees would review those reports.
Secondly, if the Parliamentary Budget Officer were supporting these committees, I think he or she would be able to assist in connecting the dots, if you will, focusing on some of the key issues when Fisheries and Oceans, Defence, and HRSDC and various other departments and agencies come to committee.