Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Wernick, I want express my opposition to your comment about the deficit reduction action plan and the impact this has had on the public service. The deficit reduction action plan had two scenarios: one of 5% and one of 10%. That would imply that it is, in fact, funding that resulted in the regression of the public service. However, in fact, if we look at the situation we are in today, with a 53% increase in our bureaucracy, there are poor public services. Immigration backlogs are significant. Passports are unavailable for those who wish to travel, and obviously, there is the inability of the current government to negotiate a strike.
I definitely do not think that a lack of money or funding is at the heart of the problems of the public service. The situation that we find ourselves in today reflects that perfectly and evidently. I, myself, was affected by the DRAP. I was the consul to the mission in Dallas, Texas, at the time, and I, too, had to come up with 5% and 10% scenarios. I do not correlate the deficit reduction action plan to the position that the public service is in today.
With that, Mr. Chair, I'm going to pass my time over to Mr. Barrett.
Thank you.