Evidence of meeting #17 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cuts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
Are you asked where there are surplus funds and where cutbacks could be made?
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
It varies a great deal. Take Statistics Canada, for instance. That agency has a $600 million budget. We reviewed the situation with other officials and had discussions with the Chief Statistician who, along with others, identified possible areas in which cutbacks could be considered. That is one form of consultation.
Take for instance the Canadian Intellectual Property Office or CIPO. At one point, a $50 million surplus was identified in their financial statements. Discussion is ongoing. At the same time, we continue to pursue a number of other initiatives. Yesterday, we tabled what could be considered the department's financial statements. While we did that, we discussed budget cuts. There is no specific starting point, it is an ongoing process.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
Very well.
If I have understood correctly, if there are other initiatives under way, we can expect other cutbacks.
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Perhaps you could ask the Minister that question because it is not usually up to officials to initiate...
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Usually, officials do not initiate that type of process.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
I will put my question another way. Did the Minister ask you whether there were other possible cutbacks to be made? You said that there are other initiatives under way. Do you expect more cuts? Have any requests been made? In the next couple of months, should we be expecting other budget cutbacks within your department?
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
You know, never say “never”. It is kind of like the “best before” date on your yogourt container, my answer will only be good before that date. If economic circumstances change or if there are other changes, it is possible that the government may want to reconsider.
Next year, there will be a new budget. There may be additional investments in some areas. Perhaps the government will want to make appropriations and commit funds to other sectors. It is an ongoing process, not something which is settled once and for all. However, at this point, we are not working towards making new budget cuts.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
You are referring to the scope of the budget, but do you know what the next budgetary envelope with be and what conditions will apply in order to qualify for funding in the aeronautics sector?
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I'm not sure I understand the question.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
Do you know what the next budgetary envelopes will be and what conditions will apply to qualify for funding in the aeronautics sector?
4:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I think that Mr. Bernier has, on numerous occasions, stated that the program needed to be reviewed in terms of its criteria, mechanisms...
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
The Department tells the Minister what the criteria will be. Do you already have an idea of the criteria that people will need to meet in order to qualify for funding under the various budgetary envelopes?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
We have two more minutes, so we'll go to Mr. McTeague for two minutes.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm sorry I wasn't here at the outset. This may have been raised already. Mr. Dicerni, I just wanted to get a bigger picture of people who may lose their jobs as a result of these cuts. Will any of these cuts translate into job losses throughout Industry Canada, that you're aware of?
4:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I don't think so. If I misspeak myself, I'll get it from my guys. If I look at CIPO, if I look at StatsCan, I don't think so.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Finally, an idea and illustration of some of the priorities you see down the road. Cuts today may very well mean new expenditures tomorrow, and there may be room for that. In future, I would be interested to hear how successful you are at seeing new projects and new programs come forward, in cooperation with your minister.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you very much, members, for being with us today and for your questions, and thank you to the witnesses for their answers.
If there's anything further you would like to provide to the committee members on any of the topics, please feel free to do so.
We will suspend for two to three minutes and go in camera with members and their staffs, and we'll have a discussion of future business for up to thirty minutes.
Thank you again for coming here today.
[Proceedings continue in camera]