Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My comments on the supplementary estimates (B) will be brief because they are comprised of only two items.
There are two items in supplementary estimates (B), and both of them are transfers from one organization to another. A remaining transfer of $50.5 million was made from the Department of Canadian Heritage for the control and supervision of the office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada. This transfer was made necessary by government restructuring, which saw control of the department transferred from the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on May 16, 2006.
The second item is a transfer made between our department, Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada and Service Canada.
We have transferred these funds through an agreement with Service Canada in order for them to prepare for the common experience payment. This preparation will entail substantial information technology development work. Service Canada will receive all applications under the common experience payment, conduct a screening of the application, authenticate the identity of the applicant, and transfer the data electronically to residential schools to validate residency. The applicants will be informed of the decision by Service Canada, and if appropriate, Service Canada will issue payment.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.