Evidence of meeting #44 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
So that's part of the old estimates, the $16 million?
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
That's right.
Conservative
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
It's actually brought the $16 million to $18.3 million. Of the approximate $3.5 million increase you're referring to, about $1.5 million is for the Federal Accountability Act—an increase that we are not asking for today. The other $2 million is related to the business case we presented, bringing us from the $16.2 million or $16,298,000 to the $18,346,000, as you can see in the chart.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Thank you, Mr. Tilson.
It's my turn, so maybe I'll just carry on from where you were.
On page 2 of the documentation you set out, line B is your estimation for the Federal Accountability Act, at $1.365 million—which you were just talking about. And you have a little footnote under B saying that you're not asking for it at this time, but that subject to your presentation to the committee, you will come back for supplementary estimates. That's how I'm reading it.
Is that correct?
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
That's correct.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Do I therefore take it that when we see the supplementary estimates, we shouldn't see a request for any more than $1.365 million?
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
What you will potentially see in the supplementary estimates are two other items. One item would be what I would describe as technical adjustments—though I'm not sure if there will be any—relating to collective bargaining, which is outside our control.
The other thing you will see is the carry-forward provision from 2006-07 to 2007-08. As you know, all government departments and agencies are permitted to carry forward any lapsed funds, up to 5% of the previous year's budget. That was our case. Although we don't have the final numbers yet, we will have lapsed money from 2006-07, and as part of the automatic carry-forward, we will be coming forward through the supplementary estimate process to have that approved.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Yes, but that won't be extra money; that will be money you've carried forward.
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
That's right.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Yes, I've got it. Okay. So we'll watch carefully to make sure you're in the ballpark.
The budget for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and assistant privacy commissioners, on page 3, is $1.848 million. Footnote 2 includes a budget for a 2007 privacy conference, which you were talking about, Commissioner. What's the budget for that?
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
The total budget, as I remember, but I stand to be corrected, is a little over $925,000.
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
The net cost to the government will be reduced by what we are estimating will be $500,000 in registration revenue, in essence, or fees.
Liberal
Director General, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
That's right.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Okay, and what is the external advisory committee? Is that different from the strategic alliances, or is that one name, which is also in footnote 2?
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
No, the external advisory committee is a group of about 15 persons--there is quite a bit of information about that on our website--who have been informally advising me, as Privacy Commissioner, since I took over at the end of 2003. They meet in Ottawa once or twice a year, and they give us informal long-term advice on strategic directions and functioning issues. They are all privacy experts in different domains.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I'm taking it from footnote 2 that they get some sort of salary or honorarium or per diem or something. How much is that in total?
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
It is $200, I think.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
No, no. I mean in total, because you're including them in your $1.848 million.
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Are you asking how much this costs per year?
Liberal
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
My memory is $15,000, Mr. Chair. We can give you those exact figures.
Liberal
Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
“Strategic alliance” is simply a budget--I think we spent about $60,000 last year--for initiatives that I, particularly, as Privacy Commissioner, might like to take in the course of the year. That is $60,000.