Senator Plett: Senator Black, I believe this report involves a trip to Guelph. Since it was a public meeting and not — as the translators in our committee like to say — a secret meeting, it was discussed that you had asked for a certain sum of money. I believe that was cut almost by half. Does this report reflect what the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration approved this morning or does it reflect what you asked for?

Senator Black: Honourable senators, as we all know, in the preparation of a travel budget, committee clerks err on the side of caution. Therefore the request that we did send in was on the side of caution.

After my appearance at the Senate budget committee last week, subcommittee members lowered the participation from 12 senators to 9, and removed the costs associated with interpretation. As such, only nine people will be travelling and we will not be offering interpretation services to the committee for the trip.

Recognizing that the travel is coming up quickly, we need to get on with purchasing those tickets and the things we need. This report does reflect the lower amount.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Could I ask the senator a question before we ask for leave?