Government Operations Committee on Nov. 24th, 2011
Evidence of meeting #18 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was estimates.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Michelle d'Auray Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat
- Bill Matthews Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management, Treasury Board Secretariat
- Christine Walker Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services, Treasury Board Secretariat
- Sally Thornton Executive Director, Expenditure Operations and Estimates, Expenditure Management, Treasury Board Secretariat
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Denis Blanchette Louis-Hébert, QC
If economic conditions were to deteriorate, something no one at this table hopes happens, might your targets change?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
The Minister of Finance decided and announced that he was making changes to the employment insurance scheme, as well as other changes relating to some of our government's programs, because the situation has deteriorated in Europe and America.
I can also say that it is important to have targets for budget cuts.
I would say this to you, sir. We obviously understand that we are living in a world where there are some massive economic changes occurring right now in the eurozone, the United States, and elsewhere. But if you look at where the problems are arising, they're in countries that do not have plans to get back to balance because then all of their other plans for jobs, growth, and being low-tax jurisdictions that can generate innovation go down the drain.
To me it remains important, despite the economic conditions and because of the economic conditions, to continue with our plans to find savings where they merit action. That's certainly our continued commitment.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
The Chair Pat Martin
Denis, you're well over time. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Minister.
Scott Armstrong.
November 24th, 2011 / 4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Thank you.
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
My first question is on one of the statutory items and major increases in the total transfer protection that came about on June 6 as part of Bill C-3. It involves total transfer projection payments that were first announced in December and the equalization-receiving provinces. It amounts to about $952.1 million.
Can you explain how this has come into effect and why we've put that in there?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Bill has the numbers right here in front of him, so I'm going to leave it to him, if you don't mind.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management, Treasury Board Secretariat
I just have a couple of points of clarification, Mr. Chair.
Statutory items are in the estimates for information purposes only and are not part of the appropriation bill that will be voted on.
Normally, the main estimates would have the statutory items, and you'd see an update in the supplementary estimates for any revised forecasts.
What you'll see in supplementary estimates (B) that is related to this is a bit of a large amount, simply because when we did the main estimates it was not yet clear how the calculation was going to be applied for some provinces. We didn't have a good amount to actually put in for an estimate. We now have a good number.
The Department of Finance keeps its website fairly up to date in terms of forecast for transfer payments. You're seeing it in here, not because it's new since supplementary estimates (A) but because now is the time when we've actually got a good estimate of the number.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Okay, thank you.
The second one is somewhat to that and it's probably the same situation. It has to do with the transitional payment to Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador Additional Fiscal Equalization Offset Payments Act (2005). At about $536.1 million, it's another significant amount.
My guess is because Newfoundland and Labrador is now a “have” province, this is to help ease the burden of the loss of equalization payments? Is that the...?
4:15 p.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management, Treasury Board Secretariat
The Province of Newfoundland, Mr. Chair, has a choice as to how it elects to calculate that formula. So, again, we're waiting for them to make their choice on how the formula would be exercised, and that's why you're seeing it here.
I should say I actually mixed the two up. I thought your first question was on Newfoundland.
In answer to your first question, the reason we are showing up in supplementary estimates (B) for the first time is that we had to wait for the Budget Implementation Act to pass to get the authority to put that in there. My apologies for mixing up those two.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
No problem, it's very complicated. I'm having trouble getting my head around it myself.
The other question is for the minister. HRSDC is requesting $11.8 million for the targeted initiative for older workers, which supports older workers in communities that are suffering great losses in jobs. We've got a couple of communities in Nova Scotia right now that are going through tremendous problems.
Can you explain how that program works and how it's shared between the provinces and territories and the federal government?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Sure.
I hope you don't mind because I'm still in my sixth or seventh month at Treasury Board, but I'm going to rely on my colleagues here who have a wealth of experience on some of these matters.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
They can dig into the details. I do rely on Mr. Matthews or Madame d'Auray—and Ms. Walker has joined us. Welcome.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
It's the TIOW, the targeted initiative for older workers.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative