Government Operations committee  I appreciate the question and this important opportunity to clarify something on which I can see there's some confusion in certain quarters. It's very important that positions are eliminated under these restraint exercises. Under strategic review, and most recently under the deficit reduction action plan, we have eliminated positions.

Government Operations committee  Our new buildings are built to LEED gold, and we also are able, in our major refits and in renovations as well, to extract energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions there. We're also reducing travel. I will, if I may, now ask John McBain to elaborate on the answer. He is our ADM for real property.

Government Operations committee  We're quite proud of our leadership in green government operations under the umbrella of the government's sustainable development program. There is a theme, theme IV, on the greening of government operations. Public Works plays a lead role in the plans there. Our major efforts are focused on government buildings, along with fleet management, because government buildings account for about 80% of overall greenhouse gas emissions from the government sector.

Government Operations committee  There are two things. First, we are the major agent for the Government of Canada in procurement, so the lion's share of procurement runs through our department. Also, of course, we are the custodian of office buildings for the Government of Canada, so certainly we've always had integrity provisions associated with acquisition.

Government Operations committee  I don't think Public Works and Government Services Canada actually has an advertising campaign. I think the honourable member is referring to the Government of Canada's advertising campaign. Public Works does indeed have responsibilities here, so I well understand the question.

Government Operations committee  Thank you. PWGSC remains focused on fiscal prudence and ensuring that taxpayers' dollars are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. In Budget 2012, PWGSC committed to $177.6 million of reductions over seven years as part of the deficit reduction action plan. Most of the savings are from the modernization of government workspaces.

Government Operations committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good morning, everyone. My name is Andrew Treusch. I'm the associate deputy minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. I am pleased to be here along with my colleagues, Alex Lakroni, who is our Chief Financial Officer, John McBain, Assistant Deputy Minister of our Real Property Branch, and Pablo Sobrino, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of our Acquisitions Branch.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Lakroni.

Government Operations committee  Can I just augment that, very briefly?

Government Operations committee  By its very title, the operating budget “freeze” is meant to eliminate growth in the operating expenses of a department. Insofar as the government is looking to harvest savings from programs, that process would be strategic review. That's the process that will unfold for our department over the coming year.

Government Operations committee  At any particular time, there are probably assets in our inventory that would be surplus to our requirements.

Government Operations committee  Insofar as we have capital assets in relation to our capital budget—and again, the capital budget is not affected by the operating fees—there are well-defined policies and procedures for the disposal of crown assets. I'm not an expert in this vocation, but when a department or custodian declares that it no longer has a need for an asset, there's a policy to be followed whereby we ensure that it is indeed surplus to the Government of Canada, that there is no requirement for it.

Government Operations committee  Thank you. If I may, I'll try to answer your question, sir. Diane, please supplement me with your more expert knowledge. Let me just start with the basic math. For a while now, we have been fixated on the renewal of the public service. Central to this has been recruitment of the next generation of leaders, and then progressively training and developing these new recruits.

Government Operations committee  Budget 2010...?

Government Operations committee  Well, our CFO is here at my right, and his principal preoccupation is ensuring that our budget is in the black, is balanced. At the start of the year, we have our plans. We have our plans to deal with any financial pressures. Included in those plans will be strategies to manage our operating budget freeze.