Evidence of meeting #86 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Saxton.
Mr. Brison, we have a few minutes for your final round.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
One of the challenges we're faced with in omnibus legislation is that, as the finance committee, our focus and responsibility and understanding of issues is basically on questions of the fiscal framework or budget-type questions, and we're forced to deal with issues around intellectual property, public sector labour relations issues, and issues around the long-gun registry. These should be dealt with at the appropriate committees. It's very frustrating.
On the whole issue of the proposed changes to the treatment of sick leave of employees, the government seems to be—and it's not just this, even the tone in the House, the gratuitous attacks on the public service seem to be.... I remember as minister of public works that we had 14,000 employees. We agreed with the union sometimes and we disagreed at other times, but we engaged respectfully. We did not gratuitously try to pick a fight.
Does it seem that the government is angling to pick a fight, as opposed to trying to negotiate and address some of these issues? There may be some legitimate issues, but instead it is looking to pick a fight and perhaps even provoke a strike. Do you have any thoughts on that?
10:45 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
What else could this be, really, when you're talking about fictitious numbers and accounting exercises and bringing about a surplus by manipulating your books?
You mentioned earlier the sell-off of GM shares at a loss. There were a number of other instruments used in this budget implementation act that really speak to exactly that point—picking fights. Taking $2 billion out of the contingency fund is another example of the poor use of fiscal funds.
10:45 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Indeed, that's what this is about. This is nothing more than a pre-election budget PR exercise.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
This question is for the RCMP.
The OPP confirmed that an investigation is active. That was confirmed in Maclean's this week in a report that the commissioner wrote to the Attorney General to raise the concern that documents related to—
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
It's being investigated by the OPP, who confirmed on Tuesday that the file forwarded to them by the Public Prosecution Service is the subject of an active investigation.
Do you have any further comment on that? It's in the public domain.
10:45 a.m.
Deputy Commissioner, Specialized Policing Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
No.
As I said before, we have no information, but we would cooperate with any investigation.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay, thank you.
On behalf of the committee, I want to thank all of you for being here this morning. Thank you so much for participating in this session today.
Colleagues, we will resume here in this room in 60 minutes, please. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.