Thank you, Mr. Krutko. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour. I cannot see your hand unless you raise it. Those opposed. The motion is defeated. I believe the direction I received this afternoon from Mr. Ootes is that we now proceed to Department of Finance. We have Finance program summary. Before I enter the Department of Finance, I would like to address the committee. Before we proceed with the consideration of the main estimates of the Department of Finance, I wish to take a few moments to remind Members of the process for reviewing departmental estimates here in committee of the whole.
As you know, we begin with opening comments by the Minister and follow that with the report of the appropriate standing committee. The next step is general comments. As the title indicates, Members are to limit their remarks to comments that are general in nature. Comments that apply to the overall mandate of the department. Members are to save their specific comments or questions until the appropriate activity is called by the chair, as we proceed page by page.
Your chairs of the committee of the whole have been lenient in past days in allowing Members to address issues, not only of a general nature of the department, but also to pose questions. We cannot permit this to continue.
General comments will be allowed by each Member for up to 10 minutes. In making these comments, Members may pose questions, but they are to be contained in the general comments. Also, I will not permit the Minister to respond after each Member's general comments, but I will allow the appropriate Minister to respond, if she or he wishes, once all Members have made their general comments.
I would encourage Members to take a little time to review the main estimates detail book in advance, so you will know when the appropriate time will be to ask your questions on each activity and pursue your issues as we proceed page by page. Your chairs of the committee of the whole do not wish to limit your abilities to examine or question the proposed budget. However, we do wish to facilitate the review of these estimates in a logical and orderly manner. We would very much appreciate your co-operation in this regard and we will assist committee Members in recognizing how best to address your concerns and needs with this process. Thank you.
Mr. Henry.