Again, it would depend on the specific structure of the purpose-based votes going forward, but we've identified two issues that would likely be required to balance that control and ongoing latitude to manage programs. Those are the issues of year-end carry-forwards and transfers between votes.
Currently, under the parliamentary control structure, a transfer of even a single dollar between one vote and another requires Parliament's approval. The Treasury Board has no latitude to approve any transfers between votes without the consent of Parliament.
When we looked at this model in other jurisdictions—I mentioned Quebec—the legislation would allow departments a certain latitude. Quebec uses 10%. Others use higher or lower numbers, and it's only once that threshold is breached that a department would come back and seek specific parliamentary approval to transfer amounts above and beyond what is contained in the legislation.
To our mind, it is a function of that balance between control, oversight, and better reporting and having an ongoing ability to deliver programs and services. For programs and services, think about programs and services for veterans. It is demand-driven. If there is a spike for a particular veterans grant or contribution and they can't take money from elsewhere in the department to satisfy that need, they would have to come to Parliament, and at certain times of the year it can be very debilitating for departments—at the end of the year, for instance, when we don't get Parliament's approval for the final supplementary estimates of the year until the last week in March and we don't get royal assent sometimes until March 31.