Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to welcome the minister for his second appearance before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
I would also mention, Mr. Chair, that we intend to support the requests pertaining to the main estimates.
Mr. Minister, when you last appeared before the committee, you indicated that you were implementing a new pay system for federal public servants. You said at that time that everything was fine in the best of all worlds. You are now preparing to implement the second phase of the Phoenix pay system.
We have learned that public servants are not receiving their pay, specifically Canadian Coast Guard employees, who return from several weeks or months on assignments abroad for Canada only to discover in horror that their pay has not been deposited.
Can you reassure us that the errors that occurred during phase one have been corrected and will not recur in the second phase?
One has to feel for federal public servants, especially those on lengthy assignments abroad who are without income for some time.