Information & Ethics Committee on Nov. 29th, 2017

[Layla Michaud]

In the past few years, we have made repeated requests for permanent funding.

In your analysis, we look at the trend in complaints, our inventory and the number of complaints received every year.

Three or four years ago, when we did this analysis, we said that we needed about $4 million per year for the first three years in order to be able to bring our inventory down to almost zero, to 500 complaints. In addition, we needed a little over $1 million on an ongoing basis. That analysis was carried out three or four years ago. At that time, we were receiving between 1,700 and 1,800 complaints a year. Last year, we received over 2,000, just like the previous year. This year, if the trend keeps up, we expect to receive more than 2,400. The demand is much higher than what we are able to offer. We therefore have to regulate supply and demand. We should conduct another analysis on that.

Three or four years ago, we needed $4 million per year for three years, in addition to an ongoing amount of just over $1 million a year. In whatever shape or form, Bill C-58 will be a game changer.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

That was exactly what I was going to ask in my next question.

Could you briefly elaborate on that? If Bill C-58 was passed and implemented, would your budget and your ability to continue your work be affected?

[Layla Michaud]

First, we must see the final version of the bill. Second, one of the issues we have to tackle is the transition. That's extremely important. How will the transition be handled?

If Bill C-58 becomes law in January and all the complaints received up to January are no longer managed in the same way as the new complaints received under the new legislation, we will have to manage two different systems. We need to know how the transition will be handled. How will we manage those two systems?

Today, our inventory has more than 3,400 complaints. If the bill becomes law in January or February, those 3,400 complaints will have to be processed under the new system. The last thing we want is to have an inventory under the new provisions. We will have to do a thorough analysis. As we often say, “the devil is in the details”. When we analyze the bill, which we have already started, we must pay attention to all that. For now, it's very difficult to give you an amount.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Since I have the answers to my two questions, I will share my time with Mr. Picard.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

Good afternoon.

Could you tell me how you arrive at the amount of 1.8 million in lapsed funding?

What does that amount correspond to?

[Layla Michaud]

You want to know what the $1.8 million corresponds to?

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

You are asking to re-profile lapsed funding for two fiscal years: 2015-16 and 2016-17.

[Layla Michaud]

The breakdown of the OIC's expenditures is as follows: 80% is spent on salaries and 20% on operations. The amount of $1.8 million includes approximately $275,000 for 2015-16, and $1.5 million for 2016-17.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

So we are talking about amounts that have not been spent during the fiscal year.

Do the years during which the amounts were not spent correspond to the three years for which you said the funding was $4 million?

[Layla Michaud]

No.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

Could you clarify why the $4 million comes up three times and what it is for?

[Layla Michaud]

I was asked earlier how much money would be needed. We have made repeated requests for permanent funding. Three or four years ago, we estimated that we needed about $4 million over three years to reduce our backlog, followed by a lower amount in permanent funding. However, we did not obtain that funding.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

How much did you receive instead of the $4 million?

[Layla Michaud]

We received nothing.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

So you had no funding. How were you able to save money under those circumstances?

How much funding did you have?

[Layla Michaud]

Let me clarify that, in terms of the $1.8 million, we did not receive additional funding for 2015-16, but that we did not spend $275,000 of our overall allocation for that same year.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Zimmer]

You have 30 seconds left, if you want to use them.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

I'll give that to my colleagues. I'll continue in the next round.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Zimmer]

Next we move over for seven minutes to Mr. Kent.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Does the $4-million figure still apply in terms of addressing the current backlog of 3,400?

[Layla Michaud]

We will have to do another analysis to see if $4 million will be enough. Based on the form that Bill C-58 is going to take—

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Yes. Whether it's a two-tier system or not....

[Layla Michaud]

Exactly. We will have to do a complete analysis. Three or four years ago, when we tried to get more money for the office, the analysis was that $4 million for three years would be needed to eliminate the backlog, plus around $1.5 million on a permanent basis.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Okay.

[Layla Michaud]

But we did not get that money, just to be clear.