Considering that one of the overriding criteria affecting current government activity is cost cutting, options must be considered for handling increasing workloads without incurring more costs. The limited funding still available from committee budgets can be used to hire specialized expertise on a temporary basis for a particular enquiry. In this way the experience and knowledge of the committee staff can be supplemented on an as needed basis by technical expertise. Although cutbacks in committee budgets limit the funds available, they may be sufficient if effectively targeted and used to complement the Library's committee staff. Research Branch officers are well suited to advise concerning timing and the expertise required when bringing in technical consultants.
Government departments are a source of technical expertise.
There are a number of recent examples of departmental officials assisting committees. Although the very suggestion that the executive branch of government would provide staff to parliamentary committees would seem unacceptable to strict constructionists who insist on keeping legislative and executive branches separate, this should not be ruled out provided conditions for such an arrangement are clearly established. Such an arrangement could be mutually beneficial. It would appropriate additional resources and technical expertise to committees, while serving the interests of departments to participate in committee deliberations. Departmental officials normally monitor committee meetings in any event.