As the committee members know, the process used to set fees is very complicated and long. We have an obligation to consult everyone affected by the initiative. Since those fees will be paid by Canadians, they deserve to be consulted on the issue.
Since we have to consult people outside the country and will be guided by the provisions of the Financial Administration Act, the exemption gives us a flexibility tool to ensure our ability to respond to circumstances abroad. However, our fees cannot exceed the service cost.