Government Operations committee  They are separated for information purposes. I don't know if Dr. Massolin has anything further to add to that.

Government Operations committee  There are separate tables for those different categories. For example, I have a summary table here for statutory amounts per department. We'd be pleased to provide this documentation to your committee clerk if it would be of assistance.

Government Operations committee  The latest round of changes came through a change in leadership in 2007, so that triggered the establishment of these policy field committees.

Government Operations committee  I think it was part of a democratic renewal platform along with increased participation by the opposition.

Government Operations committee  I think that's a fair assessment of what transpired. As you can appreciate, Alberta has a history of having a small opposition. The opposition parties were spread very thinly, because there could be two subcommittees meeting at the same time.

Government Operations committee  I think the key problem identified by the opposition was that when they split up into subcommittees that met simultaneously, they couldn't be in two places at one time. So there was a preference to go back to a committee of supply, which is the committee of the whole.

Government Operations committee  No. The policy field committees are recent additions to our process out here. Prior to the policy field committees considering estimates, all of the estimates went to the committee of supply. There was another process back in the 1990s where subcommittees of supply considered est

Government Operations committee  No, not really. The idea is that the estimates for a particular department are going to a policy field committee that's familiar with the programs associated with that department, so there is some familiarity there.

Government Operations committee  Not in particular, but as I said before, I think the key difference between Alberta and the system you have in place is one of timing and the information available in the main estimates documents, because what is presented when the budget speech is delivered reflects what is in t

Government Operations committee  It hasn't been.

Government Operations committee  We would consider that a transfer, and that would necessitate a supplementary estimate.

Government Operations committee  That's correct. It would go to the committee of supply.

Government Operations committee  Again, I think those questions are better put to the departmental officials. All I can say is that the documents—the estimates, the fiscal update, the fiscal plan, and the ministry business plans—are all tabled at the same time, when the Minister of Finance gives the budget addre

Government Operations committee  If it's a new program for the forthcoming fiscal year I would presume it's reflected in the main estimates document that's tabled at the same time the program is announced in the budget address.

Government Operations committee  Again, some of these questions are better put to the department.