One of the witnesses last week, from the University of Victoria, had been in the PCO, and he said he feels what we're really lacking in the process are champions. He said that if a senior minister would take this as a champion, it would be good, but if deputy ministers themselves could come together and strengthen one another to drive these things through.... So I would encourage the system to look at that again. I think that was a good recommendation of the previous committee.
I have a general question. It seems to me that before any of this stuff gets to you, the expenditures have already been decided at the Department of Finance. They have figured out how they're going to do things. Saying that, by the time you see it and you perform your GBA...and I really agree with what Mr. Wild said last week, and I appreciate his encouragement. I don't think it is a checklist; I think you're trying to do a thorough job. By the time it gets to you, how much influence do you actually feel you would have if many of these major decisions about expenditures have already been made?
Mr. Wild, you talked about flagging, that you send these things forward and you flag them. We've had so many witnesses who have come to us.... And they might be flagged, but for some reason it's not working, at least from what we're hearing from witnesses. So I would like it if you could address that. It seems to me that something needs to happen way before you folks start to flag it or even recommend it. The Department of Finance has to do a lot more in looking at this whole thing about GBA. I'd be interested in your comments.