Thank you for the question.
I'll give one example and then refer specifically to the West Block.
It's interesting that when we do long-term planning on the precinct, there are two elements that come to mind to me as the accounting officer and as I deal with my colleagues from the precinct. Sometimes there are surprises, and sometimes surprises can create delays or cost increments. You've seen the deterioration of the West Block.
When you start to do work, if something is unstable you have to deal with it. That may create a bit of a time lapse and cost increments. We have provisions for that: we have contingency provisions set aside. That's the first point. As I said, there will be surprises and we have to be ready for them.
With the Library of Parliament, that is exactly what happened. Yet, on the other hand, sometimes an opportunity arises that can allow us to go faster. That's what happened with what we refer as “1 Wellington”, the former photography museum next to the Château Laurier. It became available. This was not planned; it just became available. The NCC asked if we were interested. We looked at it and spoke to our parliamentary partners and we said that we could do committee rooms in there. We got the money to do that from the fiscal year. It was not planned. That move saved two years, in the sense that instead of doing a two-step process in the rehabilitation of the West Block, we can now empty it totally. We don't have to keep committee rooms operating in the West Block.
So the West Block will be empty as of this fall, and we're going to be able to work at it in one shot. It's structurally easier engineering-wise and in terms of health and safety, and cost as well. Time is money. That is an instance of having surprises sometimes. On the other hand, we have opportunities. When they present themselves, we have to be nimble enough, with the cooperation of our colleagues, to jump and take a step, as we did.
The other example I will give, Mr. Chairman, is the relocation of the kitchen. As you know, the West Block had a kitchen for providing food for parliamentary buildings. We have, essentially through tender, developed an off-site kitchen. It's not too far away, but it's not as close as it used to be in the West Block.
If I remember, Mr. Wright, the realization from the project was something like 20% below budget simply from good management. Anyway, you will correct me if need be. We had good estimates. The work was done correctly and the kitchen is fully and seamlessly operational for members of Parliament.
Could you add to this, please?