Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. The interim estimates is requesting appropriation authority of $518 million in operations expenditures for the interim period of April 1 to June 30, 2016. These interim estimates provide the necessary resources for the government to operate in the first three months of the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The 2016-2017 Main Estimates, or full budget, will be presented during the May/June sitting of the Legislative Assembly, at which these interim estimates would be superseded. Departments are required to develop their 2016-2017 interim estimates based on a status quo 2015-2016 budget, only identifying the appropriations required to get through the interim period. I will stress that this does not include any new funding that hasn't been approved by the Legislative Assembly. All funding adjustments would be approved through the business planning and main estimates process.
The $518 million represents 31 per cent of total expenditures included in the 2015-2016 Main Estimates, compared to 30 per cent of total expenditures, which was approved during the last interim appropriation in 2012-2013. This exceeds one quarter of the 2015-2016 Main Estimates budget due to operation requirements that require that sufficient funding is to be in place to ensure certain contracts can be committed for the full year as required by the Financial Administration Act. I understand that committee has concerns regarding the ongoing funding for the Community Access Program under the Department of Transportation. Minister Schumann and myself are prepared to speak to this issue and have a solution to address the committee's concerns. That concludes my opening remarks.