Finance Committee on May 28th, 2012

[Colleen Barnes]

We recognize that things are changing out there, for instance, with climate change, and the nature of disease is evolving. So we looked at situations, for example avian influenza, which we've had success in eradicating. If we hadn't been able to, the costs of managing that disease would have been pretty significant for the agency.

We recognize that the current way the legislation was drafted, we had no way of moving to a management approach in those situations. That's why it's here. It's part of that, recognizing the change in science.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thank you.

That's all I have.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

You can have a minute and a half now, or you can have a full round later.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

I'll just have it now.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay.

Monsieur Mai.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Could you tell us whether the proposed changes are meant to protect animal welfare in cases where there is a disease outbreak affecting all animals?

[Colleen Barnes]

We can zone now. But what this will allow us to do is that when we have an area that's declared under quarantine and we can't eradicate that disease, we can now put a control zone in place where we can manage the disease while we use science or other ways to effectively eradicate it. It allows us to have a way of managing going forward.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Is the welfare of the animals taken into consideration in that case?

[Colleen Barnes]

It would be, based on science, in terms of our approach. So to that extent, yes.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

Mr. Hoback, please.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Thank you, and thank you, witnesses, for being here.

We need to clarify the advantage of the zoning and what it means to producers who are actually raising the animals.

In the old situation, I understand, if it wasn't for zoning, an outbreak in one part of Canada would have an impact on the markets for those animals right across Canada. Is that not correct?

[Colleen Barnes]

Potentially. When you're in a situation where you can't eradicate, we could move to this zoning. And that is well recognized internationally as a management approach that would only, then, have implications for the zone and not the rest of Canada.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

The financial implications for producers, farmers in particular, would be enormous. For example, if there were an outbreak in my province, a producer in Ontario wouldn't necessarily lose all his markets, as has happened with cases of mad cow disease in the past.

[Colleen Barnes]

That's right, Mr. Chair.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

So there are the financial implications of why this needs to be in the budget.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

I'll go to Mr. Brison, please.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

On a very specific point in division 34, I have a question. What is the basis for the conclusion that the chronic wasting disease strategy would be moved from eradication to containment?

[Colleen Barnes]

That's just one example. It's not designed for that disease in particular. It's for any disease where we find ourselves in a place where we can't eradicate.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Does the change from eradication to containment expose us to any trade issues with the U.S. or Europe, or any other countries?

[Colleen Barnes]

No. This actually will help us. We then get this new zoning approach that, as the other member mentioned, is well recognized internationally as a management strategy, and it actually helps us keep our markets open.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay. That's it.

Thank you very much for presenting to us and for responding to our questions.

We'll move forward to division 35, the Canada School of Public Service Act.

Welcome to the committee, Ms. Leigh. Please present an overview of this section. Then we'll move to questions from members.

[Nancy Leigh, Manager, Governance Secretariat, Canada School of Public Service]

My name is Nancy Leigh, and I'm here on behalf on the Canada School of Public Service.

The school provides training for federal government employees and these proposed amendments are legislated changes to the Canada School of Public Service Act to eliminate its board of governors.

Currently the board provides the deputy minister with strategic advice by reviewing strategic direction, business planning, and performance results. The proposed changes are being made to align strategic oversight in a more transparent, risk-based manner, and to reduce the costs.

I want to assure you that oversight of the school will continue through existing mechanisms such as audits from the Office of the Comptroller General; the annual management accountability framework assessments; annual performance reporting, including the Departmental Performance Report and the Report on Plans and Priorities; as well as a five-year report to Parliament.

Our deputy minister will receive strategic advice from our direct clients, who are deputy ministers, through various deputy minister committees.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you very much for that overview.

Are there questions from members?

No.

You've satisfied everyone.