Evidence of meeting #119 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was advertising.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you, Mr. Jean.
As the Chair, I wanted to follow up on a couple of items.
First of all, Ms. Harrison, in your opening statement you talk about decreases of $4.2 million related to savings identified as part of the budget 2012 spending review and $4.4 million for various sunsetting measures. Can you explain some of those measures for us in terms of the savings identified?
9:45 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services Branch, Department of Finance
On the budget 2012 spending reductions for the department, there are three main areas in the department that we're seeking efficiencies.
The first is in our internal services corporate groups. We've done some restructuring and some realignment of responsibilities to drive out some efficiencies.
On the policy research side of the department, we've reorganized to embed stand-alone research analytics in the policy advice function, as opposed to having them stand alone. We've also made greater use of information technology in things like our staffing and recruitment processes.
With respect to the decrease of $4.4 million, this is the sunsetting of some previously approved, time-limited items, including the corporate asset review, which was the review of government assets, and some funding related to the department's role as co-chair of the G-20 framework working group. It also includes some work on GST technical issues and personal income tax issues, such as, for example, a review of the registered disability savings plan, employee profit-sharing plans and such, and some sunsetting resources in the financial sector area related to specific legislative and policy drafting requirements.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay. I appreciate that.
I'm going to ask a second question about estimates generally. My third is going to be about OSFI; that's just a hint for the OSFI individual to come to the table for the third question.
For the second one on the estimates, as parliamentarians we deal with estimates and we deal with public accounts. It's an awful lot of information. Frankly, I find the three-year comparison very helpful for me. I find the explanations in the estimates this year much better than they were last year. I certainly compliment the department on that.
Could you perhaps explain to Canadians watching this that in terms of estimates we have the main estimates and then the (A)s and (B)s and so on? Sometimes that is a little confusing to your average Canadian. Could you explain the challenges for your department, not on the statutory side, perhaps, but in terms of trying to forecast what the department will spend in the upcoming year?
9:45 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services Branch, Department of Finance
I think the challenge is the various financial exercises throughout the calendar or fiscal year and the timing and such.
The production of the main estimates, which you have before you, you can see by the size of that document that we have to put it to bed, so to speak, from an input perspective, in late January, which is well before the federal budget has been tabled. As a matter of course, the main estimates do not reflect any new funding initiatives that will be announced subsequent to this document’s being finalized.
Our opportunity to get those funding initiatives in front of committees and Parliament is through the supplementary estimates processes. There are three opportunities to do that.
First, supplementary estimates (A) we typically try to get out as soon as possible after the budget, for any very high-profile items that we can get through the approval process, and for officials. Just because it has been announced in the budget doesn't mean it's automatic. There is a challenge and review process that we go through with Treasury Board ministers.
Second, supplementary estimates (B) traditionally is where you'll see, for Finance Canada, should we get any voted resources, those appear in our supplementary estimates (B), normally around October or November, because that has given us time to do the due diligence and process through Treasury Board.
Then, the final supplementary estimates, supplementary estimates (C), just before the year closes, traditionally for us is just updating our statutory forecast. Should there be any need to realign resources between votes, that's our last opportunity to come before committee and Parliament to seek those approvals.
I understand that it's a snapshot of a bit of a moving picture. There are the mains, and then the three supplementary estimates.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I appreciate that. I think people following these hearings would find that to be very helpful.
I have a brief final question on OSFI. It's a very well-regarded institution, both domestically and internationally.
On the increased responsibilities for OSFI, if you look at increased oversight with respect to CMHC, can you address any issues with respect to budgeting within OSFI in terms of these increased responsibilities?
9:50 a.m.
Director of Finance, Office of the Superintendant of Financial Institutions, Department of Finance
Yes, sure. The increased responsibilities were given to OSFI as part of the budget last year, so we did increase our staffing to provide these services to CMHC, but I have to say that these services are cost-recovery based. They're done through a cost-recovery model with CMHC, so they are not affected by the appropriation funding we get through the vote.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I thank you for that clarification.
I want to thank our officials for being here.
There was a request for a document.
Monsieur Caron, you wanted to request a document.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Yes.
Clearly, we have now come to the end of questions, but there is one additional piece of information I would like to get from the department and I would like it to be forwarded to the committee.
In terms of the Canadian Securities Regulation Regime Transition Office, the Supreme Court made a ruling in December 2011. We knew that $27 million had already been spent for this office and for the transition to a national organization.
Could you simply tell me how much money has since been spent on this transition office, which the government wants to keep open based on Budget 2013? Since December 2011, how much money has been invested in or spent on this transition office in order to have a Canadian securities regulation agency?
I would appreciate it if you could provide us with a detailed description of the expenses, as detailed as possible.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I'll inform members that at any time they can submit questions to the chair and I will happily provide them to department officials for a response.
Is it clear in terms of the request that was made?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services Branch, Department of Finance
Yes.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay, I want to thank all of our officials for being here.
Colleagues, do you want to deal with the votes in these estimates today, or do you want to deal with all the votes after we deal with CRA officials?
9:55 a.m.
An hon. member
All together.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay, we will deal with all the votes together after CRA.
If I could ask the members of the subcommittee to stay, we're going to adjourn this meeting but I need some advice on the calendar. Other members are welcome to stay if they like, but I do need some help as the chair with respect to the calendar.
Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.