Industry committee  Thank you. My comments will be very brief, because I assume that if you've asked us to come and appear before you, it is not to listen to bureaucrats wax eloquently. My opening remarks are on the verge of being completed. We will do our best to answer your questions without e

Industry committee  If I am not mistaken, Monday's announcement called for a reduction of approximately $20 million for this year, and the same amount for next year. I think, as Mr. Bernier mentioned yesterday in the House, that this program still has enough money to continue investing in a number o

Industry committee  I would have to get back to you on that. With 24-hours notice, I did not have an opportunity to put together as large a file of analyses as I normally would. This program receives a number of applications. As I was saying, we expect to be in a position to make some announcement

Industry committee  As you know, I have only been in this job for a short time. Perhaps my colleague, Mr. Wright, could provide you with more information. When the minister was appointed, he undertook to review the program, because of a number of concerns with regard to its management and to ensure

Industry committee  I've been on the job since May 1st, and to the best of my knowledge, there haven't been any announcements about specific projects.

Industry committee  I've had the opportunity to work for different governments at the federal and provincial levels, namely for Mr. Rae and Mr. Harris. All of these governments had to deal with fiscal constraints, budgets, and budget cuts. Each government uses its own approach. It varies according t

Industry committee  This is getting dangerously close to the ministerial decision-making process. I'd better be very cautious. This is getting very close to the ministerial decision-making process, to what goes on between the deputy minister and the minister.

Industry committee  We had an opportunity to meet representatives from the aeronautics industry a few days ago. Mr. Bernier met with them, and I spent several hours with them. The sector is very important for Canada. It makes an important contribution to Canada in different areas. That contribution

Industry committee  I also had an opportunity to meet Ms. McKenzie a few weeks ago, when I attended a meeting of the Commission's board of directors. As regards the $5.6 or $5.7 million earmarked for the move, the Commission had a budget of about $25 million to facilitate its move to Vancouver. I w

Industry committee  No. I'm talking about Treasury Board.

Industry committee  I'm talking about a ministerial decision.

Industry committee  It's in that sense that the announcement linked to the cut, if you will, is a government decision. It's also for that reason that it's on the list in front of you.

Industry committee  I think that is beyond the scope of my mandate as a public servant.

Industry committee  As officials, we do not operate based on messages or signals of one kind or another; we have programs to administer, with budgets supplied first of all by the government and subsequently by Parliament. I think that could be a question to put to the Minister tomorrow, in the Hous

Industry committee  I've been told that those who stood to benefit did not avail themselves of this program. In previous years, the budgets for this program were never spent. So, from year to year, there was some reprofiling of funds. The amounts cuts from this program were unspent from one year to