Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
As you noted, I have precious little time to be able to ask questions. The providence of the committee has decided to change the normal standard of what would be considered from a majority government. The practices of this committee, from a majority government till today, are quite different, so I have limited time.
With limited time, I want to take some time to say thank you. You've had 34 years in the Office of the Auditor General. You've served this Parliament and this committee with wisdom, and your advice is appreciated.
With that said, I'll get right to my question.
Expediency. The government has suggested that its contrition for its shortcomings was caused by the need for expediency, yet we know that the 2010 Muskoka summit was planned for, implementation began, and things were well under way one and a half years before the actual summit.
In your professional experience, having 34 years within the Office of the Auditor General, could something have been done within that 18-month timeframe to put in place the financial authority to ask cabinet and Treasury Board and to seek approval through the supplementary estimates for the financial authority to engage in these projects?