Evidence of meeting #16 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was security.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Audrey O'Brien  Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
Claire Kennedy  Chief Financial Officer, House of Commons
Louis Bard  Chief Information Officer, House of Commons
Marc Mayrand  Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

I think the library's figures are organized differently from ours. It's hard for me to find them.

11:50 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

Audrey O'Brien

Perhaps our chief financial officer, Ms. Kennedy, could—

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Public Services... No, that's not it.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC

It's Professional and Special Services. What does that include, and what justifies the...?

11:50 a.m.

Chief Financial Officer, House of Commons

Claire Kennedy

Mr. Chairman, that heading includes, first of all, professional consultation services. For example, there is the potential implementation of various computer systems. There's also speech-writing and thus everything that falls under professional services.

Under this heading, we also find training, which includes professional training services, courses, etc. This is a heading that will traditionally vary from year to year, where there will be a distinct difference. There are a number of projects in addition to that. For example, we offered training when Vista was implemented. That project has been completed, and other projects are being added.

So this isn't necessarily a single project, but these are projects for which funding was granted for a given period of time. Funding has been withdrawn and new initiatives are being added.

Earlier there was a relevant question concerning computer security where professional resources have been allocated for a period of time. Then, when the implementation is complete, the purchase of licences can appear under this heading as well.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC

There's also a heading called Purchased repair and maintenance. These are also subcontractors and contract employees.

Pardon me, Mr. Chairman, this is fascinating.

11:50 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Sorry. I even gave you extra time.

Monsieur Godin.

May 25th, 2010 / 11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

That's part of what budget? For example, if we consider outside security, the RCMP has had to increase security since people climbed on top of the buildings. I see they have more cars, but who's paying for that?

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

Audrey O'Brien

That's in the RCMP budget.

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

The RCMP doesn't have a money-making machine; who's paying for the RCMP?

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

Audrey O'Brien

The RCMP draws on the main and supplementary estimates necessary to—

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Does Parliament pay a portion of it?

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

At no time.

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

So everything that goes on outside doesn't come out of Parliament's budget.

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

Audrey O'Brien

That's correct.

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

The addition of RCMP officers won't be corrected later and be part of the—

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

There could be some changes in their estimates for that, but it's the RCMP that has to do it, not us.

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

They're the ones who will do it. Earlier, if I correctly understood... Where do we stand with regard to the West Block?

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

Audrey O'Brien

We're still waiting for progress on the Promenade Building in particular for the committee rooms. Work on the Promenade Building is progressing very well. We're assessing the stage the work will have reached by the summer adjournment to determine whether we can proceed to relocate members as planned.

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

In fact, there are two groups: the committees and the members.

11:55 a.m.

Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

With regard to members, is work advancing—because we don't have to do both at the same time?