Government Operations committee  I think the vast majority is in the economic action plan, which is really in chapter 3. It's a very large chapter.

Government Operations committee  That's the guidance that we have provided departments, that it will be chapter 3.

Government Operations committee  I'm sorry, if I may correct you there, it is subject to the normal process we follow in approving items for, say, supplementary estimates. There's no difference. Indeed, we may see some items where we would draw on the central vote for the first installment and then into supps A or supps B for remaining funding.

Government Operations committee  That's correct.

Government Operations committee  That's correct, and all allocations from this vote will be communicated to Parliament.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Martin, I can't say what specifically the Auditor General has said on this. The Auditor General has been consulted. We expect that the Auditor General will continue to audit the entire budget implementation process. All the documents that she and her colleagues need for those audits will be provided to them.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Martin, I do not want to try to speak for the Auditor General on this. That's the nature of my response. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on what she would say.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Martin, with respect, we've had a contingency vote, Treasury Board vote 5, for I believe well over 100 years.

Government Operations committee  Perhaps I'll allow my colleague, Mr. Pagan, who is more expert on this vote than I am, to comment. We've worked very hard with committees and with the Auditor General to meet both the need for the flexibility of a contingency vote to deal with urgent situations or unforeseen circumstances that face Canadians and the needs of the committees for clear rules and guidance on how this vote is used.

Government Operations committee  Well, Mr. Martin, there's no question that the entire civil service and all the departments that are involved in budget implementation are working extremely hard to bring this budget to fruition. So without question, there's a tremendous burden on all public servants who are charged with these responsibilities.

Government Operations committee  It would only apply to initiatives that were in the budget and nothing less.

Government Operations committee  It's not a blank cheque. As I understand it, the budget has been approved—in principle, at least. So it is for those initiatives that are in the budget.

Government Operations committee  We do not believe so. In fact, we're treating these items the same as we would treat the supplementary estimates (A) items, which would go in June. It's the same due diligence that's being applied.

Government Operations committee  Certainly to have funds flowing from April, yes, it is. Otherwise, it would be the latter half of June at the very best, maybe into July, before the funding would flow.

Government Operations committee  Definitely not.