Government Operations Committee on Nov. 20th, 2014

[Gordon O'Connor]

Mr. Matthews, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is requesting $84.6 million, and it's basically requesting it to deal with non-passengers. What does that category “non-passengers” mean?

[Bill Matthews]

That is the airline crew themselves, the baggage handlers, and airport staff. It's basically anyone associated with the workings of the airline but who are not passengers. That's a specific category. My colleague had mentioned that this funding is to help Canada conform to some new international standards in this area in terms of how non-passengers are screened. That's what the $84.6 million is for.

[Gordon O'Connor]

It's a bit surprising we wouldn't have dealt with this already in the past. We're screening passengers all the time but we're not screening the crews and everybody else.

[Bill Matthews]

Well, no, we were screening the crews and everybody else. What's at stake here is that I believe there's been a change to the international standards, and if you want to operate airlines, international flights, etc., it's important that there be a consistent approach to how this screening is done among the various countries. As my colleague was saying, this is about conforming to international standards in this area, which I believe have recently changed.

[Gordon O'Connor]

Okay.

Transport Canada is requesting $75.9 million basically for the replacement of MV Princess of Acadia. Where does this project stand now? Is the money flowing?

[Bill Matthews]

In terms of the money flowing, this project actually represents the money flowing. This is in the appropriation bill. If it's approved, Transport Canada will received $75.9 million so they can actually act on this transaction. This is to replace a ferry that runs out of Digby, Nova Scotia, which has reached the end of its useful life, so there's a replacement required. The money will flow after the supplementary estimates (B) so the deal can be finished.

[Gordon O'Connor]

My final question is on Parks Canada. They're requesting $57.6 million for infrastructure. Is this higgledy-piggledy all over the place, or is it concentrated in certain areas?

[Bill Matthews]

This is a specific request for new money. The $57.6 million request is based on a list of specific projects and, from a parliamentary perspective, it goes into Parks Canada's reference level. They have a specific list of projects in mind. I've mentioned two already, the Crow Bay dam and the highway in Glacier National Park, but there are many. The bulk of their work will get done during certain seasons of the year when it's more favourable to actually do remediation work. There is some work they can do over the winter, though, so that's what this represents.

I want to highlight that if they do run into a delay on one project, they have other projects as well, so there may be some interplay on the projects, but it was based on an initial list.

[Gordon O'Connor]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Thank you.

Next on the list is Mr. Ravignat, from the NDP.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

I have to get out my questions, because I did not know I would be speaking. How much time do I have?

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

You have five minutes.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

I would like to talk about Heritage Canada. We have talked about it before, Mr. Chair.

Heritage Canada is asking for $65 million under vote 5b to provide an initial, multi-year contribution to the Toronto Community Foundation in order to encourage the public to participate in physical activity by supporting the operating costs of three facilities.

I have several questions about that.

How many years will the $65 million requested be used for?

[Bill Matthews]

The games themselves are in 2015, so the money is required to get these venues in place for those games. Basically, we're looking at the current fiscal year as well as the next fiscal year. I believe there is some funding that will go to the organization for ongoing operations as well. I'm not certain how many years that will flow out, but the bulk of the money is for the actual construction piece.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Can the program be renewed?

[Bill Matthews]

In terms of the construction facilities, I would doubt it, because this is a one-time.... Toronto is hosting some games and the money is for three facilities: the University of Toronto, York University, and the velodrome in Milton. That piece is one-time, and—I'm going from memory here—I think there's a little bit of funding for operating that goes with that as well. I wouldn't expect that to be ongoing, but that's speculation on my part.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Okay.

Let us move to Parks Canada, which is asking for $57.6 million. Which national parks and historic canals will be receiving these new infrastructures and repairs? That is what I understand the request is for, new infrastructures and repairs.

[Bill Matthews]

It's largely for existing repairs and upgrades to existing assets: highways, bridges, and dams. The money is spread across multiple parks. It's not one or two parks; there are a number of projects. I've mentioned two several times, but I don't have any additional examples. This is not a project that's specific to one or two parks; this is ongoing repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure, so it's across the whole inventory of parks.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Is there no new infrastructure being built with this money?

[Bill Matthews]

I can't say there's none. The bulk of it is to repair existing...unless you have an existing asset that's in such disrepair it makes more sense to replace it with something new. But as far as I understand it, this is about replacing and repairing existing infrastructure.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Okay, and there isn't a way of making a distinction between both of those?

[Bill Matthews]

I'm not sure how Parks Canada would manage that. They would have plans. I'm not sure if I could get you a list of whether something involves repairs or it's brand new. I don't have that at my disposal. It's possible that the department would.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Okay.

Could you speak more generally now? As you know, this committee has studied the estimates, among other things. The report contained some recommendations.

How did you take those recommendations into consideration in this case?

[Bill Matthews]

Thank you for the question.

This committee has previously made a lot of recommendations on ways to improve the government’s estimates.

I would highlight for you three things. First, where the greatest improvements have been made in response to recommendations by this committee is the upfront piece where you actually get to see the spending of the department in previous years which was a fairly new addition. Second is increased or improved disclosure around horizontals. Third, and we haven't discussed it here today, is the report on plans and priorities which go with the main estimates. It's the forecast of three years of spending out and explanations as to why actual spending was different than forecasted.

Those are the three main things I would highlight for you. There are others, but those would be the big three.

If I could add a fourth, it would be the database that was produced which again we haven't discussed today. When we first started, it was called the expenditure database. At the request of this committee, there's a database with spending and it's searchable, actual spending authorities, etc. It has been expanded to include HR information and other things, so it's now called the infobase and it goes well beyond financial stuff.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Thank you, Mr. Ravignat.

Mr. Matthews, thank you for being here and for giving us clear and helpful information.

We wish you every success in your new position. We look forward to extending a welcome to your replacement.