Government Operations committee  Thank you for the question. There are two things I would say in this regard. First, Canada Post, as an independent Crown corporation, is one of the largest organizations within Canada, with nearly 70,000 employees from coast to coast to coast. They maintain operations and obviously are the specialists in managing their own operations.

Government Operations committee  The letter of expectation is provided on an annual basis by any minister who has heads of Crown corporations within their portfolio. With regard to Canada Post, the letter of expectation identified a number of expectations. I would say that expectations fall within a couple of different categories, if you'll permit.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning. Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples. Thank you for inviting us here today, as representatives of Public Services and Procurement Canada, to discuss the important topic of postal service in Canada's rural and remote communities.

Public Accounts committee  I have the numbers for 2021-22. Its budget was $239 million in total.

Public Accounts committee  Do you mean for Public Services and Procurement Canada?

Public Accounts committee  Yes, within our department, we are subject to that policy. We have mechanisms in place, particularly on our real property side, in terms of project management. All projects are assessed based on risk and so on.

Public Accounts committee  I'd have to come back to you on that one. I don't remember if we're a three or a four. This is an area that's way outside my expertise, but we do have an OPMCA that's been approved by the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Public Accounts committee  Yes. Members of this committee, as well as members of “the mighty OGGO”, as I believe the chair refers to it, often get to hear about the various activities that Public Services and Procurement Canada does in a number of areas, including real property, digital services and Receiver General functions.

Public Accounts committee  I don't have specific—

Public Accounts committee  For the National Capital Commission, I don't have the answer to that question.

Public Accounts committee  That's a good question. I don't know the answer. I'd say it's probably no, since it's a new construction, but I don't have a definitive answer.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for your question. I unfortunately don't know the reasons why the National Capital Commission decided to suspend or delay the project. I apologize.

Public Accounts committee  It's hard for me to answer that question. The only thing I could say is that I know that, in certain situations, the buildings are in such a state that it's hard or dangerous to try to keep them intact and usable. In this case, for operational and safety reasons, it's possible that they have to be demolished to make way for the construction of a new building, even though they're part of a complex considered as being of heritage importance.

Public Accounts committee  I don't have a lot of experience or knowledge in the real estate construction business. To tell you the truth, I have no point of reference that would indicate to whether the total cost of nearly $8 million for this building was or wasn't an effective expenditure. When the NCC people testify before the committee, they'll be able to give you more details on the expenditures that have been made for that building and the reason why they were necessary.

Public Accounts committee  Is that from a departmental perspective in terms of the procurements we undertake, or some of the activities that we would do as a department? I'm sorry. The reason I'm asking the question is that Crown corporations have different sets of rules from the ones for PSPC, which I'm not necessarily as familiar with.