Government Operations Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2009

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

A point of clarification or order.

I had asked about the pay direct card specifically to the minister and didn't get a response. I guess we ran out of time. I wonder if you could give information to this committee on that particular project.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Minister, what I would suggest is that we will look at the blues--I think Madame Bourgeois had asked for something and Madam Hall Findlay had asked for something--and send you out a request for the information that is outstanding.

Madam Hall Findlay.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make sure, though, that when we make the request we do have some timeframe associated with the receipt thereof.

Can I get a commitment from the folks here that there will be an appropriate timeframe? We do rise next week.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I guess we normally give them a week or two weeks.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

If I may, the minister was referring to information that already exists, so it should be--

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

If it exists, if we could have it at the earliest, we will make that request.

Thank you.

I would like to thank the witnesses for being here. We will follow with the vote on all the items. If the minister wishes to stay, he can stay while we vote for it.

We will suspend for a minute.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

We will now resume with the votes.

CANADIAN HERITAGE

Public Service Commission

Vote 95b--Program expenditures..........$15,188

(Vote 95b agreed to on division)

GOVERNOR GENERAL

Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$36,525

(Vote 1b agreed to on division)

PRIVY COUNCIL

Department

Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$17,170,875

(Vote 1b agreed to on division)

PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$152,616,855

Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$15,438,934

Vote 7b—Government Telecommunications and Informatics Common Services Revolving Fund..........$1

Vote 7b is a $1 amount and it is just to give the authority.

(Votes 1b, 5b and 7b agreed to)

TREASURY BOARD

Secretariat

Vote 1b—Program expenditures.........$1

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Again, this is the authority to utilize, so it's $1, not $713 million.

(Vote 1b agreed to)

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

It's a big difference.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

It's a difference.

TREASURY BOARD

Secretariat

Vote 15b—Compensation Adjustments..........$713,291,362

(Vote 15b agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Shall the chair report the supplementary estimates (B) 2009-2010 to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Now we go to committee business, and we have the motion—

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

I would like to move it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madam Hall Findlay, the floor is yours.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to move the motion. Do committee members require me to read it out loud? Everyone has a copy of it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

If you wish. Expliquez.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

I can explain it. There is already a bit of an explanation in the preamble. There are contribution agreements between the provinces and the municipalities under which the municipalities are required to provide a report about the jobs created by the Stimulus Fund every quarter. All the agreements are part of a broader agreement between the Government of Canada and the provinces.

I have a copy here. I can explain it further. Every three months, the municipalities must provide a report specifically about the number of jobs created. We ask for that information. The Government of Canada can receive that information. We request information about the jobs being created. We have not received anything up until now. That is why we are introducing this motion.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Given the numerous questions raised by Ms. Findlay in her motion, and given that we will be hearing from the deputy minister, Mr. John Foster, later on, the deputy ministers may be able to respond to Ms. Hall Findlay's concerns.

If you have other questions lafter that, you could present your motion later. You may get all the information you need.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

The problem is that they are coming here at 5:10 p.m. and will only be staying until 5:30 p.m. I do not know whether or not we will have enough time. In all honesty, I would prefer that we go ahead and vote on my motion first. If they provide us with information later on and this information turns out to be the information I am asking for in the motion, so much the better. Otherwise, I would prefer that we vote on my motion first.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I would prefer to vote on the motion later, because it would be more appropriate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Bourgeois.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Personally, I have no objection to this motion, provided that it respects Quebec's jurisdiction.

In Quebec, unlike the rest of Canada, municipalities are the creatures of the Government of Quebec. Agreements are made between the Government of Quebec and its municipalities.

Ms. Hall Findlay, would you agree to an addition to the motion? We would add that this must be done in keeping with Quebec's jurisdiction.

I will vote in favour of this motion, providing that we specify that you are just curious that it must respect Quebec's jurisdiction.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Absolutely, Ms. Bourgeois, I just want to ensure that there is some equality...

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Ms. Findlay, it is not true that Quebec is equal to the rest of Canada.