Industry Committee on Nov. 27th, 2012

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you for the question.

For sure, I will not compare it to any other economic agencies across the country. We have the capacity. I think it's a good tool to make specific choices in any agency. If we want to do something with the money we have in Quebec, with respect to all the other agencies, we can do that. I will not speak on behalf of the other ministers of our agencies.

In Quebec, you're right, it's really supportive of the presence of Canada in Quebec. It's a very important tool for us to have these economic agencies for the SMEs in the regions and all across the country.

I spoke with Mr. Rousseau tout à l'heure, who was working in a CLD in Quebec. They work closely with a SADC normally. There's always a SADC in any region of Quebec. That's really helpful. We have to work with 12 regional offices of CED-Q, but SADC and CAE are very supportive of them.

Sometimes smaller enterprises with up to four employees are go to see them to have a start-up. If they don't necessarily have the money to support them, they have the knowledge to support start-up enterprises and to create jobs. That's why we were very proud to have signed up in 2010 for five years. We have very good partners. That's helpful in any region of the province for smaller projects, as I have said.

Afterwards, sometimes they come to CED-Q for bigger projects, and we're supporting them to create more jobs.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Thank you for saying what you've said. They are an excellent tool to have on the ground, to know what's happening for job creation in their community. As we always talk about and we know, small businesses create jobs. It's about generating that entrepreneurial spirit within people to begin businesses. Many of them have faced losing their employment through no fault of their own, but have always thought about how one day they would like to start a business. Again, it's to tap their entrepreneurial instinct. Of course, these agencies do that.

I'd like you to elaborate, if you can, on the support initiative for international cruise development. It is mentioned in your notes as well. Can you add anything further to its objectives and tell us how that's working, and where you see that going?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Please be as brief as possible, Mr. Minister.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We worked on this program with the Government of Quebec. It has been very successful. It consisted in supporting the development of cruise infrastructure and, of course, the development of communities. As we said earlier, the fact that the number of passengers on cruise ships has gone from 150,000 to nearly 360,000 this year—and it will be even higher next year—is one example of the sound choices our government and the agency are making to support the economy of Quebec regions.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

I will just advise everybody that these will be the last two speakers. The minister has committed to being here until noon.

Ms. LeBlanc, you have five minutes.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the minister, as well as Ms. Perreault and Ms. Pham, for being here.

Minister, this is a good communication exercise. You are telling us about projects and various other things. This information is crucial to us, the members.

I would like to come back to the questions my colleagues asked earlier. We see in other departments, such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, that the communications we maintain with department officials are very important for us.

You mentioned the website. However, as you know, it's sometimes important to be able to speak to officials in person to get answers to more specific questions. That's a legitimate requirement, both for members and for constituency staff. You know, we can't always use the website. I think that this is a very legitimate and important need.

That being said, I would like to continue discussing communications. You talked about the strategic review you conducted and said it was a priority for the Conservative government. Some cuts were mentioned without any specifics. Some offices have been closed. You mentioned consolidations. Mr. Regan asked for more details about that.

A request was made for more specifics about the cuts and about which areas they will be made in. Are you willing to provide that information to the Parliamentary Budget Officer?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I will begin by answering the question on operations, Ms. LeBlanc.

Are you telling me that constituency staff speak with officials about decisions? As a minister, I do not call officials' offices. Things work differently. If you are telling me that constituency office staff call officials to obtain information on decisions, that's a completely different thing.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

I want to clarify, Mr. Lebel. I understand very well that our role is not to interfere, but to obtain information, and that's totally legitimate.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Okay.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

I want you to understand that I am not at all talking about influencing decisions.

However, Canadians come to see us and tell us that they have not received an answer to their question or bring up similar issues. It's sometimes important to have that kind of a relationship.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We think it's crucial for members to be familiar with the Canada Economic Development programs.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

That's why we like talking to someone in person.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It think it's natural and normal. I think everyone at the Economic Development Agency of Canada makes an effort.

Listen, I have been the minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec since October 2008. There haven't been any changes since your arrival.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

All the better.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It's simply a matter of using the tools. No order of any kind has been issued. However, when I hear a member say that those public servants did such and such—as I have heard in the past—or when I hear members from your party say they called the business office to sort out case X, an alarm goes off in my head.

Information on the programs of the Economic Development Agency of Canada must be available to everyone, and it is certainly not our intention to do otherwise.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Yes.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

So, in that respect, we will continue to share information.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

That is incredibly important.

I have another question about information.

When companies in a riding receive a grant, would it not be appropriate to advise the member for that riding, regardless of which party they belong to? Is it appropriate to receive information of that nature?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Absolutely. Conversely, we do not make calls specifically for that purpose. We do not call all the members across Quebec. If a company wishes to invite people, as is often the case, it can do so.

Allow me to explain how we handle a file, Ms. LeBlanc. A proponent submits a project, and that project remains confidential until it is announced.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

I see.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Anyone who calls for information on a specific file will be told no. It has nothing to do with the party they're from. The problem has more to do with the fact that someone may not understand how the process works. Any file submitted by a proponent remains confidential as long as no announcement has been made.

The proponent has the right to invite people to announcements in the ridings. In fact, members from the opposition often attend announcements.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Good.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We attend as well, and I am delighted to congratulate them. I do so regularly, Ms. LeBlanc.

That said, I do not speak on behalf of the proponents. Their file remains confidential until such time as it is announced, so we keep that information.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

That's great, Mr. Lebel. Thank you kindly.

Back on the topic of the budget cuts, I would like to know whether the information was provided to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

The answer is yes.

I will let Ms. Pham speak to that in greater detail.