Finance Committee on Feb. 13th, 2008

[William R. Young]

Last year we saw $250,000 in our supplementary estimates to assist us in setting up the office, but because that did not happen, we returned that money. It lapsed, and we have funded all the activities related to setting up this office internally.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Do you have an actual office location for such an office?

[William R. Young]

Currently most of the library staff are housed at 50 O'Connor. I sent a letter to the deputy minister of public works as soon as the officer was included in the Parliament of Canada Act, and we currently are going to be getting additional space there for this.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

If it happens to get reclassified, will it require a whole new round of applications and search?

[William R. Young]

I don't believe so. I will let Mr. Darling explain, as he's been in charge of the selection process.

[Allan Darling]

I think the search process was very thorough, and it canvassed the community of people who would have the skills and ability to undertake this function. Changing the classification wouldn't change that pool of candidates.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Thank you.

We have six minutes left, and I'm going to split it in the last round between the Liberals and the Conservatives.

Go ahead, Mr. Pacetti.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to get two points in, and again I want to get to the structure, but before that I want to address Mr. Darling's points, both when I asked him the question and when Mr. McKay asked a question.

Again, I see this as being totally independent, but I see the parliamentary budget office preparing fiscal forecasts and, along with that, some economic analysis.

[Allan Darling]

If that is where the committee indicates to the officer they wish him to undertake endeavours, I think that is consistent with the act, because he does respond to requests from committees.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

But it's not just about economic analysis, because we can get that from--

[Allan Darling]

No, it can be a study of anything.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

We're looking at fiscal forecasts; that's key.

Mr. Young, I think you mentioned it, but did you interpret the act to say that it was independent, or how did that come about?

[William R. Young]

The library is independent.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I understand that, but in terms of legislative authority, who does the top person at the Library of Parliament answer to, the Speaker?

[William R. Young]

I am responsible to the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Speaker of the Senate.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

So wouldn't you think a position such as this would have been under the responsibility of the Speaker of the House?

[William R. Young]

Well, he is.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Who would have interpreted it that it had to go through...? I'm not familiar with the act. Does it say in the act that the House leader decides?

[William R. Young]

Yes, it does.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

With respect to structure, in your paper you discuss two levels I'm not familiar with: EX-3 and GCQ-5. What is the difference in salary?

[Allan Darling]

An EX-3 is paid $5,000 more annually than a GCQ-5.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

And the range would be...?

[Allan Darling]

I don't have the ranges, but those in the GCQ classification, because it's a Q classification, are not eligible for performance pay on top of the base salary.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Are we talking $100,000, $200,000, $2 million?

[Allan Darling]

A GCQ-5 could go to $145,000, approximately, but you will have PCO people who are....