So let's go to a specific example and see if we can square a circle a little to see why there may be some differences of opinion on cost.
Much of the criticism about some of our crime bills revolves around your report alleging that the actual cost of crime legislation will be far higher than what is expected or projected by the government. I think that is a fair statement. However, I would point out that on February 17, during an exchange between Madam Mourani and Correctional Service Commissioner Don Head, an important point was made. This all goes down to my initial question on assumptions.
Your office operated on the assumption that housing a female inmate costs $340,000 a year, when Mr. Head confirmed that in reality it is far less than that; it could be as low as an average of $113,974 a year. So the assumption you were using, as opposed to the assumption CSC was using, at the low average could be a difference of over $200,000 per inmate. Could that possibly be a reason why some of your projections could be considered to be grossly overestimated?