Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Looking at the estimates and the departmental report of this portfolio it reminds us what a staggering scope and magnitude of activity there is there. As one of the oversight committees of Parliament that is supposed to provide scrutiny and oversight it's almost impossible in this amount of time to do justice to the amount of activity that's been presented to us today. The best we can do is pick narrow little subjects and drill down a little bit in those. While I appreciate the task that you have, Madame d'Auray, we simply can't do it justice in this limited amount of time.
I'm going to use what little time I have to ask specifically about some of the contracts that go through Public Works, specifically the advertising contracts on behalf of other departments.
My information is the entire federal government's advertising budget last year was about $65 million. Minister Oliver wants $40 million this year alone to promote the oil and gas industry. I'm wondering if there are any criteria or limitations imposed on you as to what nature of advertising the government is allowed to buy. I've always understood that government advertising is to inform Canadians of the services government has to offer, to make sure that they're aware of their entitlements and the services, etc., not to promote one particular industry sector. And it's not even in Canada, I understand he wants to spend this money advertising abroad in Europe and the United States.
Nobody has to do any tag day sales for the oil and gas industry. Second to the big banks, they're about the wealthiest corporations in the country, if not the world. When you're put in the position of purchasing these advertising blocks is there any screen that you use to push back and say, why are we promoting the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers with taxpayer's money?
Do you have any obligation or responsibility, as Public Works, to that effect?