Evidence of meeting #49 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Not even for newspaper ads?
Has there been any spending since 2005-06? If I were to ask you for a breakdown of the agency's spending on advertising since 2005-06, could you do that? Could you do it right now?
12:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canada Economic Development
We will double-check, but I'm fairly certain we don't have any spending with respect to advertising.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
All right.
Can you tell me why there was a negative transfer of $1.4 million under vote 1b?
12:30 p.m.
Director General, Departmental Finances Branch, Canada Economic Development
As you saw in supplementary estimates (B), we needed $150,000 to run CIIF. Because of the reductions under the expenditure review and the 2012 budget, $1.4 million was what we had available. The difference that was available in the operating budget was allocated to the contributions budget to reduce the amount of votes adopted.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
12:30 p.m.
Director General, Departmental Finances Branch, Canada Economic Development
Of course. We have committed to providing more detailed information to the committee in writing. As you mentioned earlier, Industry Canada's Web site also provides some information, including details on the 2012 budget by program activity. I mentioned a little while ago that our site offers the same thing.
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question has to do with your ad hoc programs. A lot of proponents apply for funding and receive it, and all goes well. Some proponents have come to us with questions. They are wondering why such and such a program is no longer available. You should know that certain community groups and non-profit organizations rely on funding from year to year. They count on recurrent funding, and then suddenly, that funding disappears.
It would seem that the only way you have to communicate information to those people is through your Web site. In the end, everything is on the Web site. However, the proponent of a community agency isn't always on the Internet looking for the information. They do indeed want the information, but they would also like to be able to telephone the agency or their MP to obtain it.
How is it possible that you have no other way to communicate information to those proponents, who rely on your funding every year, funding that is suddenly no longer available? Why is no information sent out?
12:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canada Economic Development
First of all, as regards the temporary initiatives, as the minister mentioned and as the name suggests, those initiatives have a beginning and an end, with specific targets. Examples he cited were the international cruise initiative and the temporary support for communities struggling with the forest crisis. Those programs will inherently end. They have start and end dates.
As for our client service, there is indeed the Web site, but I can assure you that we continue to have a presence all over, throughout every region in Quebec. As you know, we have 12 regional offices where advisors are on the job. There is nothing preventing proponents or non-profit agencies from calling us. What's more, when they are existing clients, we always follow up to let them know what's happening. And we never wait until the last minute to do so. If they are receiving assistance under temporary programs for their initiatives or projects, usually, they should be aware that that support will come to an end, because we tell them.
In that respect, I can confirm that all our advisors are out there in the field. The Internet is one source of information, but we also go out to meet with people. They can call us, as well, and we follow up with clients. On top of that, as you are aware, we are very present in a number of regions and we do a lot of work with local partners such as CFDCs and CLDs.
12:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canada Economic Development
The only point I would like to make—and you can see, if not appreciate this—is that the information regarding all of our clients is confidential. We cannot discuss specific files with third parties.
We always encourage them to contact us. We are always willing to serve them and address their needs.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you, Mr. Rousseau.
Seeing no other questions, then....
Monsieur Blanchette, do you have another question?
12:35 p.m.
NDP
Denis Blanchette NDP Louis-Hébert, QC
It goes without saying that I have another one.
Earlier I asked you about a strategic framework for your reduction measures. You glossed over the subject very quickly. It may be due to the fact that I asked you so many questions at once. So I will ask you just one this time.
Do you plan to provide and send information on how you are going to reduce your activities and how much each of those reductions will save you?
12:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canada Economic Development
As my colleague mentioned earlier, information already appears on our Web site. In addition, we will have to reconnect with the committee to ascertain what additional information it needs.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
It appears that now there are no further questions.
Madame Perreault, Ms. Pham, I just wanted to say thank you very much—
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
— for your full and forthright answers. We appreciate your time, and I'm certain all of my colleagues feel that way. We'll await any other contributions that you're going to forward to the committee.
12:35 p.m.
Director General, Departmental Finances Branch, Canada Economic Development
Thank you, Mr. Chair.