Industry committee  That's Mr. Lapierre's opinion. I'm sure that not everyone would agree. I have read and listened to the comments made by ministers. From a global economic perspective, the impact of the cuts will depend on certain political decisions. Career public servants usually do not have an

Industry committee  As I stated, the tourism industry is important for Canada, be it in the border towns or elsewhere. In this regard, all Government of Canada investments are not strictly investments in or appropriations for the Canadian Tourism Commission. Recently, the government earmarked sever

Industry committee  I've been involved in public service in one way or the other for the better part of 30 years. I believe there is always room for improvement and room to enhance effectiveness and efficiencies. I saw this when I was running Ontario Power Generation. In the private sector and publi

Industry committee  The $25 million was a one-time request that the commission put to Treasury Board to pay for the move. The move had been estimated to cost about $25 million, and it came in at about $19 million. That $25 million was not part of the operating base of the Canadian Tourism Commission

Industry committee  That's correct. However, it was the textile industry, not the clothing industry, that was affected.

Industry committee  I'm not sure that this issue falls within the mandate of our department. Can you provide me with more information on these particular cuts?

Industry committee  How should I put this... it is fairly enlightening to be here and to learn about cuts to our department. Please allow me to be unenthusiastic about cuts to other departments.

Industry committee  I will ask one of my colleagues who was in the department when this initiative was launched to answer, since it predates me.

Industry committee  If you have a terrifically bright new idea--a brand new widget--and would like to ensure that the intellectual property associated with that widget is protected and you will subsequently derive all of the appropriate financial benefits from it, you would file a patent application

Industry committee  We refer to it as a revolving fund.

Industry committee  It is a fund that you put money into, and you can draw money out upon demonstrated need. A slush fund has a bit of a pejorative connotation to it. Given that this is a very well-run and well-managed operation, we wouldn't want to equate the two. The way these special operating a

Industry committee  I would like to make three points. One, tourism is important, and I would be remiss here if I did not underline the importance and the recognition we put on tourism. I have spent, as I said, a fair amount of time with the commission. We have a series of meetings planned for the

Industry committee  With regard to the CTC and the moneys that were, I believe, related to the transfer, there was $25 million for the transfer of the operations to Vancouver and it ended up costing less. It was the view of ministers that the moneys not spent on the move should be repatriated within

Industry committee  On some of the qualitative assessments of the measures that were announced on Monday, Minister Baird and/or Minister Flaherty are the ones who could perhaps best articulate the rationale behind the description of the changes. Specifically on the social economy, I'm given to unde

Industry committee  I don't have any percentages.