Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Secretary. In fact, we will be launching very soon our work in order to develop the report, and the action plan, and the strategy that the OAG has asked us to move forward with and that we do agree is necessary. Between the period of June and December, we will be in fact conducting our own comprehensive survey of the departments across the federal government to make sure that we do get a complete inventory of mission-critical systems that is consistent to common definitions and that identifies the risks and the priorities that these departments believe these mission-critical systems are to them.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, at CIOB we have in fact been aware of this issue and working on it over the last ten years in a variety of ways, and certainly, over the last year that I've been in my role, with a more sustained focus on a number of different facets. What we have not done, and I do agree with the OAG's report, is that we have not yet come up with an aggregated view of this issue from a pan-government or pan-Canadian--

Public Accounts committee  We work with the different CIOs and different departments constantly and continuously on many different issues. We do have a view of many different pressures, in both infrastructure and applications across the community...and a number of strategies to implement that. In fact, over the last three years we've been working through the MAF process to reinforce the necessity for the CIO in each department to have IT investment plans in accordance with the government policy on investment planning.

Public Accounts committee  The purpose of our policies, be they on project management or on other issues, is to provide the best practices and the necessary direction to departments. It is up to the departments to capture, apply and implement them. I must say that these policies are not difficult to follow and that my colleagues are very rigorous and methodical in applying them.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I will address your question as to how and when SMEs can be used by government departments and agencies in the project process. First of all, they can be used to assist departments in analysis prior to any project or prior to any solicitation or procurement process under way.

Government Operations committee  It's an excellent question: why does the government need a new procurement vehicle for telecommunications? I will answer in part and then pass it on to my colleague at Public Works. Fundamentally, telecommunications is a key component of the IM/IT operation of government, supporting program delivery in just about all agencies and ministries.

Government Operations committee  Generally speaking, it is prepared by the project team and is intended for both the team and sponsor. It clearly sets out the work schedule, expected outcomes and the roles of each stakeholder. It is a kind of internal contract that allows everyone to properly understand their roles as well as project estimates, resources and expected timelines.

Government Operations committee  Not for the time being, unless you have a specific question about the issue. We believe it is a good working tool. It imposes a very strict discipline on departments. It requires them to specify which options they considered and justify those that they retained. It is an assessment tool that supports the retained option.

Government Operations committee  I will ask Valerie to tell us whether we are planning to develop other project instruments to support the community.

Government Operations committee  Independent project reviews are a new practice that we have adopted. A manager may ask that an independent review be done of a project according to the project charter that was given to you, and which explains such things as the anticipated outcomes, as based on the business case guide.

Government Operations committee  It is a tool that sums up the status of a project on a single page. A project is defined by the scope of its functions, its estimated or approved budget, the approved schedule for the completion or the implementation and the completion, the series of risks identified during the project analysis and other factors that could come into play over the course of completion and that may have a material impact on the project as approved.

Government Operations committee  It is prepared by the project manager and his team. It is then presented to senior executives, sponsors and those who approved the project. It provides evidence as to the status of a project at any given moment in time.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  Yes, but I would add one nuance. It is possible that two departments in the same building could decide to have a single project, essentially because they are co-tenants. In that case, it could be an analysis for two departments.

Government Operations committee  Let me just add to that, Madam Hall Findlay. First, GENS is not a project. It is really a supply arrangement that will result in a number of projects going forward. Today there are 124—and correct me, John, if I'm wrong—telecommunications networks in use by the federal government, through that many and more independent contracts.