Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to read some quotes from the minister's mandate letter from the Prime Minister. It says, “We have promised Canadians a government that will bring real change”, “We committed to a responsible, transparent fiscal plan for challenging economic times. I expect Canadians to hold us accountable”, and “We have also committed to set a higher bar for openness and transparency in government. It is time to shine more light on government”.
Those are some quotes from the Prime Minister. It seems that he has set a pretty clear expectation to the minister, and to all ministers, but this just does not square with what we have seen so far. The parliamentary budget officer says, “The Government has made changes to the presentation of its fiscal plan that have made it more difficult for parliamentarians to scrutinize public finances.”
I'm wondering if you and the minister will provide detailed spending plans for her department over a five-year horizon, as was done by the previous Conservative government, instead of the short two years that has been done. Does the minister not think that it would be more in line with what the Prime Minister has asked you guys to do?