Government Operations committee  It's a fair question, Mr. McCallum, and I would defer to my colleague, the ADM for materiel, as to whether he has any anecdotes about equipment being delivered earlier than anticipated. But with regard to process, perhaps I could defer to Mr. Ross.

Government Operations committee  Thank you. There are two parts, I guess, to respond to Mr. McCallum, the first technical. In any given year, the department is appropriated money through main estimates and supplementary estimates. It spends money and gives a rendering of those accounts in the public accounts. However, through the course of the year, the department's authority to spend money that has been appropriated can be fettered or reduced by the executive.

Government Operations committee  [Inaudible--Editor]...on capital.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The department has acknowledged the observations that the Auditor General made on that plan. The fact I would point out is that in 2007 the department was faced with a choice. It could have deferred the implementation of that pension plan until the new IT systems were built, until all of the staff were perfectly trained, and until everything was perfectly set to implement that plan, which would have taken some time, or it could have implemented the plan at the time, giving reservists the comfort that the plan was in place but recognizing that there would be growing pains.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Bachand, I can assure you that these estimates do not contain a single appropriation or amount associated with the closing of Camp Mirage.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The costs were absorbed under another existing appropriation, Mr. Bachand. The department is not looking for any additional funds for the closing of Camp Mirage.