Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Thomas, I want to thank you for providing some clarifications in your response to a question that I asked you earlier. I know that the system is complex. You said that there are over 20,000 types of goods. Changing a military supply chain is much more complex than you might think.
I want to verify something. While preparing for this meeting, I came across a March 4, 2019, article by journalist Lee Berthiaume in La Presse. The article states that the Department of National Defence saved $700 million as a result of efficiencies. I want to congratulate you. This is a good thing. However, the department spent $2.3 billion less as a result of delays in the warship projects and the fact that some items cost less than expected.
Another aspect interested or intrigued me. I'm still looking for the source of National Defence's supply chain issue. The article states that “defence officials have previously blamed a shortage of procurement experts for some project delays and cost overruns.”
Can you comment on this, Ms. Thomas?