Thank you very much.
First I need to correct myself. I just had a brain lapse and read the wrong number. In fact, our spending total in the department now is $1.3 billion.
Let me say, Mr. Chairman, in response to Mr. Dykstra's question, that I think we're all very concerned about the backlog. As I point out, this total backlog grew from about 50,000 cases in 1993 to more than 800,000 when our government took office. Because of the action plan for faster immigration we've begun to turn the corner significantly in the largest inventory, which is skilled foreign workers. The $109 million that was included in last year's budget will also assist the department in accelerating processing in different inventories.
The department has made certain operational improvements: for instance, moving the processing of files in really busy operational centres like New Delhi to other immigration bureaus that have a little more flexibility, to help accelerate things. They're constantly seeking ways to innovate and improve. Because this is an operational question, I'd like to invite the deputy to supplement that answer.