Mr. Chairman, as I have indicated, it did not come out of the military budget. The defence department has responsibilities for things other than the Canadian forces and the military budget. One of these is the Challenger service provided for members of cabinet, the Prime Minister and the Governor General. This does not come out of any budget for ammunition or uniforms. It does not affect Sea King helicopter replacements or any military program whatsoever. All the money that comes from the departmental budget to make the purchase is reimbursed entirely from the centre.
However there are provisions for spending when we approach the year end for which we must follow the guidelines established by the Department of Finance including those the auditor general feels are necessary for proper accounting procedures.