Thank you for that.
Of course, Madame Turmel, you'll soon learn that there are always ways to improve, and governments are always looking for ways to be more accountable and more transparent—at least our government is. That's why we rely on the advice of the Auditor General. As I've said from the very beginning, you mentioned the Auditor General's report, and it was very clear that not a penny was misallocated or misappropriated. Every penny was accounted for, and that's the standard we set for ourselves, because Canadians set that standard for us. We're very conscious of that.
You mentioned the process going forward with the strategic and operating review. You asked some very specific questions. Of course we're not at the stage yet where any decisions have been made with respect to the strategic and operating review. There will be a whole process where we will be asking departments for their assistance and their collaboration as we move forward with the strategic and operating review. It would be premature for me to suggest any conclusions at this particular juncture.
We have mentioned, and we mentioned it during the election campaign, that we will be relying primarily on attrition to reduce the ranks of the public service. The advice I have received is that by and large, year upon year, attrition accounts for 11,000 employees who retire or resign or move on to another position in another part of our society and our economy. So that is a good base from which to start.
As I've emphasized to you at this committee, and as I've emphasized to Canadians, we are doing a whole review, though, of programs and spending and the operations of government among 67 departments and agencies. This is, as I said, the largest review that's been accomplished in 15 years. I dare say there will be some difficult choices that will have to be made, and we'll make them sensitively, but we'll make them in the public interest. That's our mandate, our strong mandate from the people of Canada.