Government Operations committee  Ministers are scheduled to appear before the committees, and only ministers may address the committees. However, the minister is often accompanied by his or her deputy and two or three other staff.

Government Operations committee  No voting occurs during the policy field committees' consideration of estimates. All the voting is deferred until the final day in the process. The short answer is no.

Government Operations committee  The estimates are presented at the same time that the budget address takes place. The information in connection with the announcements in the budget address does form part of the estimates, and it's tabled at the same time.

Government Operations committee  I would say there's a difference of opinion as to whether some members think there is enough time given to consideration. Some think there's not enough time.

Government Operations committee  The estimates document for this year outlines all of the details for the departments' forthcoming fiscal year. Because the address typically occurs in February or March, it coincides with the contents of these estimates.

Government Operations committee  In answer to your question about the resources given to members of the committee, members of each caucus have research budgets and nothing in addition to that is provided for review of supply documents in particular. In terms of the documents that are tabled when the budget addr

Government Operations committee  They're made public as soon as they're tabled. Each member receives copies of the package on his or her desk in the chamber.

Government Operations committee  I think perhaps there has been some misinterpretation of my opening remarks. In Alberta no estimates are deemed approved. Every department is considered by either a policy field committee or the committee of supply.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're pleased to be here via video conference from Edmonton. I believe you've been provided with a brief overview of our estimates process, which we provided to the committee clerk last week. My comments will be very brief to give you the gist of what we do