Thank you, Chair.
To speak directly to this motion, getting more explanation from the current parliamentary budget officer, the former parliamentary budget officer, and Michael Wernick is really the logical way to go once you read the current report by the PBO.
I'm going to highlight some sections of the report. I'm certainly not in agreement with comments that have been made earlier today that this report is complimentary. It's far from complimentary of this process. When I read it and reread it, I highlighted and underlined the key areas where I will make the case as to why we need the parliamentary budget officer to come here as a witness on this, which are as follows.
I'll read from section 1, which is the executive summary. It's on page 3, the first section of the report. The report says:
In the case of purpose-based appropriations, PBO notes that the last time this issue was studied, parliamentarians recommended approving money for each program within a department and agency. The Government now proposes high-level appropriations that would provide discretion for departments and agencies—