Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 10th, 2023

[Amanda Alvaro]

Yes, and it was 103 hours of work for a $15,000 engagement, pre-tax, which accounts for less than $130 an hour. We delivered everything we were asked to deliver—everything—on time and on budget. It was excellent work by any standard, and it was extremely good value for the dollar.

Many of the products that were produced were products that were used for a long time, because they provided the supports that Canadian businesses were seeking over the course of the pandemic. You could refer back to them at any time.

The media list that we developed on how to connect with media and the training for both media and video is training that the minister can and will continue to use. Having worked in communications in a professional capacity for the better part of 20 years, I don't just believe that it was very good value for the dollar; I know it.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you.

It was a $15,000 contract. I think it ended up costing just under $17,000, so would you say it's a bit of a stretch to say this was tens of thousands of dollars?

[Amanda Alvaro]

I would.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you.

Do you think as many Canadians would have been able to benefit from all of the government programs during the pandemic if they hadn't understood as well as they did what these programs were and whether they would be able to benefit from them?

[Amanda Alvaro]

No. I think it's easy for us to look back in retrospect and make assertions about certain things, but at the time, people were desperate for information, and they wanted to know how they could access the emergency wage subsidy. They wanted to know what loans were available to them. As not-for-profits or charities or entrepreneurs, they wanted to know whether there were different rules that would apply. How could they apply? What was the eligibility? Those were real concerns. Those were real needs of small businesses in every corner of the country.

I think being able to access that information simply and clearly was not a “nice to have”; it was essential. It was critical, and I think the minister made the right call to use every support available to her to provide that information to Canadians as broadly and as expeditiously as she did. I think she had the best of intentions to do right by Canadians.

As well, it's very important to know that all of the work that was contracted was supplied to the highest quality and was excellent value for the dollar. I believe it really helped Canadian businesses understand what they were entitled to and what they could access.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you very much. I don't have any other questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Ms. Hepfner.

Thank you to Ms. Alvaro for being with us this morning.

Committee members, that concludes our work for today. I want to wish everybody a great weekend and safe travels on your way home.

Thank you to our analysts and our clerk for the work they are doing.

Have a great weekend, everyone. That concludes the meeting.

The meeting is adjourned.