Mr. Chair, I would characterize that as a loaded question, most of whose premises I disagree with. For example, the member characterized lapses as deliberate clawbacks. Every department ends up spending less than their authorized amount. That's prudent fiscal management by managers. If there was a lower ratio of lapsing under the previous government, it's probably because the military budget was so much smaller. It was down to $12 billion for several years there, so they had to do as best they could with very meagre resources in that period.
On March 11th, 2015. See this statement in context.