Thank you for the question, Ms. Ratansi.
The issue of the first pillar, of timing, is very important, I believe, to all of us, because it would present a main estimates, or at least the possibility of a main estimates document, that is more useful, more reconciled to the budget. That in itself is a benefit. Nothing about the proposal is meant in any way to diminish the number of supply days or the ability of committees to examine the estimates on an ongoing basis.
There would continue to be three supply periods. We would be presenting estimates documents in each of the supply periods; therefore, committees would have the ability to call witnesses and hear from ministers and staff about not only the main estimates but also the ongoing operations of departments.
Bob Marleau, who the minister mentioned in the introduction, has underlined the fact that committees should be encouraged to look at the estimates on an ongoing basis rather than just episodically in the spring. We would support that.