Evidence of meeting #48 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Don Head  Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Édison Roy-César  Committee Researcher
Richard Dicerni  Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Kelly Gillis  Chief Financial Officer, Comptrollership and Administration Sector, Department of Industry
Helen McDonald  Assistant Deputy Minister, Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications, Department of Industry

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In the interest of time I'll be brief.

This motion was brought before this committee in the fall. We asked that this committee undertake a study on expenditures on advertising by the government and that it report its recommendations and conclusions to the House. It's been due process. It has been before this committee. I asked for a vote. There have been several things of late we've been talking about with regard to advertising: the increasing costs, the way in which this government is moving forward in its expenditures.... We have questions around websites and the Treasury Board's ability to overturn standards requirements. There are a lot of issues that I think we need to address, and I'd like to have a vote on this motion, please.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Mr. Warkentin.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB

We have heard in this committee the dialogues with regard to advertising. I know there's been a number of people who have been before our committee, including representatives from Treasury Board, including the Auditor General, including a whole host of other folks, who have confirmed that in fact the advertising of the federal government is completely within the guidelines of the federal government, that no rules have been broken, that no guidelines have been broken.

As a matter of fact—it may be before Siobhan joined our committee—there was a lengthy discussion with Treasury Board, I recall, with Martha Hall Findlay, as it related to the advertising and the budgets that were allocated for specifically the action plan at that period of time. It was confirmed that in fact all guidelines had been followed, that there was nothing inappropriate done.

The Auditor General has also commented with regard to the rollout and the involvement of the federal government as it relates to the action plan, under the auspices of which a lot of this advertising fell. In this case, the Auditor General actually confirmed that the federal government had done an exceptional job.

Now, I know there is some dispute as to what should be advertised and what shouldn't be, but quite frankly I believe that when you're advertising initiatives to protect and inform seniors about their rights as they relate to seniors abuse, when you are advertising to Canadians about the threat and the necessity to protect oneself with regard to the possible H1N1 pandemic that was developing last year—and obviously those actions of the federal government were successful, in that the pandemic never happened—and when you look at the initiatives that are currently being advertised, including the—

12:55 p.m.

Bloc

Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC

Mr. Chair, I am raising a point of order.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Pardon me, sir.

12:55 p.m.

Bloc

Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC

Mr. Warkentin is filibustering and I do not like that. So, I am asking that we vote so that we can leave before the...

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I was rather hoping to hear about Mr. Warkentin's baby.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB

Well, let me tell you, as a father I think this is a serious point. When you look at the current advertising the federal government is undertaking currently, it relates to a whole host of initiatives to ensure children are protected.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Thank you, Mr. Warkentin.

The time for the meeting is over. Unfortunately, we will not be able to get to this motion. Regrettably, I'll have to put it on at the beginning of the next meeting, and then at that point we'll be able to hear all of the other interventions.

Thank you, committee.

The meeting is adjourned.