I would like to call the meeting to order.
Welcome everyone; bienvenue à tous.
Before I introduce the witnesses, I want to make a few opening remarks because this meeting is a little unusual. It's not the normal meeting we have every day.
As everyone is aware, this committee has the general mandate to review and report on the expenditure of public funds--in other words, to hold the executive to account for the expenditure of public funds, so that it is done in a prudent and compliant manner. As such, we do not concern ourselves with policy, the budget process, the estimates, or the appropriations from Parliament. Of course, before any money is spent, it has to be appropriated and approved by Parliament, and that's done through the estimates process.
The only exception to this general rule is the expenditures of the Office of the Auditor General. At this meeting, which again is somewhat unusual and does take place each year, we are going to hear from the Auditor General and other members of her staff as to why her office should be appropriated approximately $72 million in funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, less whatever amount was appropriated earlier in interim supply. At the same time, we're going to hear from the Auditor General on her agency's report on plans and priorities and her agency's departmental performance report, which again are part of the estimates process.
As we're all used to, at most other meetings the Office of the Auditor General assists us or acts, really, as our partner in holding other departments and agencies to account for the expenditure of public funds. Today it is different. It's our job as parliamentarians to hold her office accountable for the expenditure of the funds that are used in the operation of that office, not only in the expenditure of the public funds but in the overall operation of her office, whether the office meets its goals and objectives and whether it's being managed with due regard to economy, efficiency, probity, and compliance with all laws, policies, and guidelines.
Those, colleagues, are a few opening remarks.
We are very pleased to have with us today, of course, the Auditor General. She's accompanied by her Deputy Auditor General, John Wiersema. Also with them is Assistant Auditor General, Ira Greenblatt, and Comptroller Jean Landry.
Having said that, welcome again, Ms. Fraser, welcome to your colleagues, and I'll turn the floor over to you for your opening comments.