Government Operations committee  That is part of the $81 billion.

Government Operations committee  Maybe I'll pass this on to one of my Finance colleagues, given that it's support under the statutory authority of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act. Alison, I see your hand is up.

Government Operations committee  Again, if we step back when we talk about the initiatives, when we're talking about specifically the broader project for the polar icebreaker initiative and so forth, the Department and Fisheries and Oceans would be best placed to answer those questions.

Government Operations committee  Right.

Government Operations committee  Mr. McCauley, just so I understand the question.... Treasury Board vote 5 is for circumstances—

Government Operations committee  —where a department has a payment, an urgent payment they have to make, and they don't have sufficient authority—

Government Operations committee  —within their vote to be able to make that payment.

Government Operations committee  My understanding is that there are four uses for that funding: public health information, financial support for individuals, financial support for businesses—

Government Operations committee  Obviously, there's always a plan for certain amounts that go through Treasury Board. That's what Treasury Board ministers do. They scrutinize these items and they move on. If the timing works, then they go into the next supplementary estimates. That's effectively what's happened

Government Operations committee  That question is outside my swim lane in looking through the supplementary estimates (A) in particular. It carries with it many questions about priorities. There's the economic side, the strategic side.... I don't know if it's one that is best suited for me to answer as opposed t

Government Operations committee  Well, certainly for items that go through Treasury Board, they get the rigour and the assessment on a case-by-case basis. In terms of the status of that project in particular and so forth, the Treasury Board's position on a particular issue often is subject to cabinet confidence.

Government Operations committee  For the polar icebreaker, effectively that would be under Fisheries and Oceans—

Government Operations committee  Sure. As you know, the estimates include $6.6 million for the polar icebreaker project. They ensure marine traffic moves safely in and through. The $6.6 million is of course the capital portion for the funding for the polar icebreaker project, under the page for the Department

Government Operations committee  I don't know whether it has shed some light on that issue. I think that issue would probably be best carried out by our colleagues at Shared Services. I don't know, Karen, if you have a position on that or a perspective to share from that standpoint.

Government Operations committee  These estimates include $81 billion in statutory support that is not being voted on in Parliament. This is support that effectively we provide detail on for transparency purposes. In terms of the main estimates plan for the 122 organizations that are appropriation dependent, we a