Evidence of meeting #7 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was industry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Thank you, Mr. Gourde.
Ms. Bourgeois, you have the floor for five minutes.
1 p.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I have a quick question for Ms. saint pierre.
Ms. saint pierre, PWGSC is in its fourth year of program transformation, or, if you prefer, its activity transformation initiative. Could you give members of the committee a plan containing the costs that this activity transformation will involve, its implementation schedule, the risk management, which I imagine you analyzed four years ago before putting all these bundling programs in place, and any analysis you have done on the effect of the program on Canadian small and medium businesses?
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
We've reached the end of the questioning.
The first thing I want to do is apologize to Ms. Shereen Miller because I didn't properly introduce her at the beginning of the meeting. She has been a very good witness for two meetings representing the office and SMEs. I'm sorry about that.
We can now allow the witnesses to withdraw.
I have three very small items for members.
First, the clerk advises he has available to any members who might wish to have it a binder of evidence that came in involving a company by the name of The Powell Group, TPG, involving SMEs and procurement. That is now available in either language to any member who wishes to obtain and use that.
Second, I'm going to ask the clerk to try to put together a steering committee meeting so we can deal with the issue of future business, and maybe we can reach consensus on an approach to the estimates and stimulus package, which we'll begin work on this Thursday. We haven't allocated meeting time beyond next week, but I think we would like to have a committee approach to that so we know where we're headed and how we'll deal with it, if for no other reason than that the stimulus package contains the first slice of stimulus money, which has been allocated to Treasury Board, and the estimates at $3 billion. I understand there's some intention to compress that $3 billion amount so 11/12 become available very quickly. We could have a supply vote in the House much sooner than the normal supply vote in the middle of June. I'll ask the clerk to put together that meeting.
Third, the clerk and the researcher will be circulating a draft report on the appearance of the Public Service Commission that took place a couple of weeks ago. We can discuss that draft report at an appropriate time.
If members wish to present a report to the House we can.
I'll stop there.
Mr. Anders.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Rob Anders Conservative Calgary West, AB
I'll just state again that in terms of the steering committee issue, I'd prefer that we deal with it as time--
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
You made that point before, and I appreciate that. I'm not going to debate it, if that's your point. I hear you.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Rob Anders Conservative Calgary West, AB
Mr. Chair, I don't see the necessity of it, but if you're insistent on having a steering committee, please make it later on a Tuesday or a Wednesday or earlier on a Thursday.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
We must have you there. We couldn't possibly proceed without you. In fact, we'll make the absolute maximum effort to ensure that it's at a time when you can be there.
Thank you very much.
Since I see no other business, we will adjourn.