Evidence of meeting #3 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much for your very detailed report.
You've indicated that your office requires additional funding to deliver programs in light of recent legislation, for example, the Federal Accountability Act. I was wondering if you could expand on the programs you intend to implement with the additional financing. Perhaps you could tell us where you are in the development of these programs and what additional staffing might be required for that program development.
5:10 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I'll take a crack at the staffing aspect first. Lisa might want to add to the programs aspect.
In terms of the staffing, the numbers are indicated in the handout. The organization, in the supplementary estimates, requested an additional 18 FTEs, or people. That meant we wanted to grow the organization this year to be an organization of 158. In fact, our actual population has surpassed that. There's additional growth next year as well.
We were able to do some anticipatory staffing. In fact, to deal with issues like the backlog, we've hired more investigators and brought them on board sooner, recognizing that there will be natural turnover and we'll lose them.
So in terms of the staff, to answer that question, this year we wanted to get to 158 and we actually surpassed that target. I think that's extremely good news, and it's not the news we would have had six or eight months ago.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Is that with respect to the Federal Accountability Act solely?
5:10 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
No, sorry, that was for the whole office.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Okay.
And could you just tell us about the programs you intend to implement?
5:10 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
In terms of the Federal Accountability Act, the resources requested here are very small; it's just the setting up of the internal audit policy—we responded to that question earlier—as well as setting up an ATIP office. That's the extent of the new resources we've requested under the Federal Accountability Act.
There is a potential for more complaints because of the increased coverage of the Privacy Act, but we did not seek additional resources through this to deal with that.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
You've given us a very good and detailed report here. Where do I find the costs that you've attributed to setting up the access to information operation in your bureau?
February 11th, 2009 / 5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I don't think it's contained in one of the handouts, but I can answer that question. To set up an ATIP office, it is going to cost $455,000.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
How many ATIP requests has your office received since falling under the act?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I don't have the number with me.
5:15 p.m.
Acting General Counsel, Legal Services, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
For complaints against our office, I believe it's been under 12 or so for the moment.
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Did you ask about complaints or just access requests?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I don't have that number with me.
5:15 p.m.
Acting General Counsel, Legal Services, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I should explain as well that in addition to creating the office, when there are privacy complaints against our organization, we don't handle them ourselves, because of conflict of interest reasons. They're handled by an external body.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Right. My question, though, is that $500,000 seems like a lot of money, and I'm just wondering how many access requests you've dealt with. What are taxpayers getting for $500,000?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
I don't have the number with me. I can get it for you.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
The other aspect of the Accountability Act that added costs to your office was what?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Internal audit.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Internal audit. And how many auditors have you hired?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Our intent is just to hire people to oversee the function and to contract out the audits.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
And all of the additional funds you're seeking in that line relate to the outsourcing of that work?
5:15 p.m.
Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
For the outsourcing and the support of the audit committee, it is $200,000.
