Thank you, Mr. Weir, for the question. That's in fact at the heart of the issue of timing and our recommendation for a May 1 tabling of main estimates.
The development of the budget is the responsibility and prerogative of the Minister of Finance, so we have to be very mindful of that responsibility. At the same time, for a number of years now we have worked very closely with the Department of Finance, in advance of the tabling of the budget, to get a sense of those initiatives that are likely to be supported, so that we can begin working with departments to pre-position Treasury Board submissions and proposals to Treasury Board ministers for their approval.
As the minister was saying, we intend on deepening that relationship so that we can work ever more closely and lessen the gap between the budget and the presentation of main estimates.