Evidence of meeting #27 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was inquiry.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Mary Elizabeth Dawson  Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Denise Benoit  Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Simon Coakeley  Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

It's 50 positions filled at maximum salary.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

And what are the chances of that happening?

4:05 p.m.

Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Mary Elizabeth Dawson

Nil. I mean, we're into the year already.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

So why are you asking for that kind of money if you actually don't think you can spend it?

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

That was asked for last fiscal year. Just to explain, when that request was made for the main estimates last August, at that point that was their best prediction.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

So when you came back for the supplementary estimates last time, for the $675,000, what was that spent on?

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

Actually, as Madam Dawson mentioned, we'll probably lapse that money.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Lapse means you don't use it.

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

We won't use it.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

So you asked for it but didn't use it.

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

But it's still built into this year's budget. Is that correct?

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

So based on what you've just told me, I should not expect to see a supplementary estimate (A) or (B) from you then. Is that correct?

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

Absolutely. That is a correct conclusion.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

I have a fundamental disagreement with supplementary estimates (A) and (B) to begin with. So you're confident that what you're asking for today is what you'll need for the year, and maybe you've added a little mush room just in case?

4:05 p.m.

Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit

We're confident that we're not going to come back and ask for additional funding.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

All right. Now, from a budgetary....

Oh, sorry. Yes, sir.

4:05 p.m.

Simon Coakeley Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

If I could just put a caveat on that last comment, though, that's assuming steady state. As Mr. Martin was asking earlier, if there were more requests for inquiries, those could, depending on the nature of an inquiry, be more expensive. If we were to be swamped with 20 tomorrow, that dynamic would change.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

But if something unique came forward, you'd come back to see us.

4:05 p.m.

Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Just so I'm understanding this, you are a commissioner of Parliament. Your approval that we're seeing today--other than us, who else sees it to approve it before it gets printed in the blue book?

4:05 p.m.

Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Mary Elizabeth Dawson

Normally we would consult with Treasury Board before we--

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Have you done that this year?

4:05 p.m.

Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner