Evidence of meeting #46 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was spending.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
An hon. member
Nice trick.
April 19th, 2007 / 4 p.m.
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
If Ms. Jauvin or Minister Toews wants to complete the answer, that's fine.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
In fact, I didn't realize the time was that short. It was just an illustration, and certainly not an intent of mine to avoid the answer. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Moore, Ms. Jauvin can now provide that answer.
4 p.m.
Nicole Jauvin President, Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada
Madam Chair, I think that I can answer the question as follows. Each department must prepare a business plan and table it before Parliament once a year. I think that the plans that you are referring to are these business plans. You get them on a yearly basis. In the report he tabled on Monday, the clerk requested that the planning be integrated with the planning of human resources and financial resources. We would have a plan that is comprised of the three elements. I hope that this answers your question.
4:05 p.m.
President, Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada
I think that you have a copy of it in front of you. It is in the blue book.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
This is not the plan. This is not what I want. There is a misunderstanding. Thank you.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
The plans and priorities were deposited at the end of February, if I understand, and we do have them, as far as I know.
Am I right, Mr. Moore? Mr. Toews?
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Yes, I understand so. Certainly I notice some members holding up the document.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
I gather that Ms. Bourgeois will have another turn in a few moments.
I want to go back to the Federal Accountability Act and talk about that. Mr. Poilievre and Ms. Jennings and I sat in this room for many very long hours going over almost 200, I think it was, amendments to that act. It was many long hours. It received royal assent, I believe, in December or in January of this year, so it has been in force for a few months. I was wondering whether you could walk us through the Federal Accountability Act and all the provisions it contains and the progress we have made on that legislation. Some things have been done; some things are still in the works, I know. But update us, if you could, on the steps you've taken.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Thank you very much.
I think it's important to emphasize the breadth and the complexity of that particular legislation. I want to compliment the former minister of the Treasury Board, John Baird, for his very diligent work in getting that bill through the House, and as well his very able parliamentary secretary, Pierre Poilievre, who assisted him in that respect.
By coincidence, of course, Mr. Poilievre is here on this committee, continuing his good work as my parliamentary secretary. I appreciate his very able assistance, and I am sure his constituents appreciate his hard work here as well.
The Federal Accountability—
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
The parliamentary secretary is actually blushing. I've never seen him blush before.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
He is a master of understatement. He consistently just does his work and expects no thanks. So when it comes, it takes him aback.
What we have done in the Federal Accountability Act is a number of things, first of all, reforming the electoral financing rules, which were a subject of great debate.
There is also a longer period to prosecute offences under the Canada Elections Act, to ensure that past wrongdoing doesn't slip away simply by the lapse of a limitation date.
We also dealt with the priority entitlement for exempt political staff to jobs in the public service. That in fact was removed; we felt it was unfair for political staff to get that type of priority.
We also wanted to make sure there was a merit-based appointment process for electoral returning officers, and I think many MPs will welcome that change.
Also, I had the occasion to announce the offences for fraud with respect to public funds and—I worked on this issue when I was the justice minister—the Director of Public Prosecutions Act. That person will be responsible for, among other things, the prosecution of those frauds with public funds.
We've worked on regulations for reporting public opinion research contracts. I think it is absolutely essential that those reports have to be released within six months. There was never an actual limitation for how long the government could keep those enclosed in wraps. Now at least they have to produce them within six months. There's an independent adviser to review public opinion research practices.
We have the authority to establish the parliamentary budget officer; the blue ribbon panel made its recommendations on government grant and contribution programs; and of course, we brought forward the accounting officer model.
Many have applauded as well the Access to Information Act being extended to the agents of Parliament, including the Canadian Wheat Board, which is not an agent of Parliament but was certainly created by Parliament. I understand that farmers pay about $70 million a year—is that it?—in expenses, and they should be entitled to know how that money is being spent. Five government foundations now come under it, and crown corporation such as the CBC and Canada Post.
We also are involved in consultations for new lobbying rules, including a requirement to file a monthly report. Those consultations are now complete.
And of course, last I'd like to mention the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, which protects public servants who want to blow the whistle on wrongdoing, and which brings into force on April 15, as I recall, the offences for interfering with a public servant who wishes to bring wrongdoing to the attention of his superiors or the authorities.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Could the minister tell the committee, then, what the next steps are—over, say, the next six months or so—with regard to the FAA and upcoming deadlines?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
What I did when I became Treasury Board president was sit down with my office and say that I wanted to see a timeline and a timetable for everything to be done. Not all of it is public yet, because obviously we try to bring these things forward as quickly as possible, but I can give you some indications.
In order for the Conflict of Interest Act to be brought into force, it's necessary to appoint a Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
I've mentioned the appointment of the Public Appointments Commission, which will come into force. The government is currently laying the groundwork for the eventual establishment of the commission.
If there's anything else I can bring to your attention in terms of a timeline, I will bring it forward. I thought it was very important to do so in the way that I have. Thank you.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome, again.
My first question is back to public appointments. That was, of course, an issue in the last federal election, and there was a commitment on the part of the Conservatives that they would deal with the issue of patronage appointments so that they were merit-based appointments. Of course, this is part of the Accountability Act. There were a number of changes made to the Accountability Act that certainly we felt were good changes, amendments to the act that I believe offer greater accountability. I appreciate that the entire act has not fully been implemented.
My question to the minister is this. When will the accountability for public appointments be implemented, so that we have a fully functioning Public Appointments Commission and Public Appointments Commission Secretariat?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
As I said, the Prime Minister brought forward a name some months ago. Unfortunately, that name was rejected by the House. That has delayed matters, but I can assure you that, independent of the efforts that are now being made to lay the groundwork for the eventual establishment of the commission itself, the government continues to insist on merit-based appointments. It is very important that we do so, even on an informal basis, as is being done now, to ensure that regardless of the political background, for example, of the individuals appointed, they have the qualifications for the position for which they are being recommended.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Minister, I'm sure that is happening. I think that a key part of the Accountability Act and the changes that were made concerning appointments was that there would be clarity and public accountability around appointments.
I guess your answer is that at this point you don't know when the commission and the secretariat will be up and running. Is that correct?
