Evidence of meeting #24 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was programs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I thought you were Public Works. Sorry about that.
So there has been no effort made to try to favour Canadian firms in your procurement. Even though those companies would be paying their taxes here and the employees of those firms would pay taxes here, there has been no effort made to try to boycott tax fugitives who shelter their companies.
Chief Financial Officer, Department of Public Works and Government Services
One way or the other, I'm not an expert in that field at all.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It seems to me that it would be a great savings not only to promote Canadian industries, but to dissuade companies from sheltering themselves in tax havens. They wouldn't be allowed to bid on federal government contracts. As a major consumer of goods and services, I think the federal government should look at that really seriously.
Similar to the question about gender analysis, was there any regional analysis to be sure this package of cutbacks didn't impact one region more severely than any other region?
Senior Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
We did look at where there were potential regional impacts that would not be spread evenly across the country, both in terms of employment and in terms of any funds that went out to specific individuals or organizations. Our assessment of the package was that it was relatively evenly spread out in terms of impacts across the country, with the exception of the direct employment impacts, which were more in the national capital region, as I said.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Coming from the poorest riding in Canada, the worst low-income riding in Canada, I think it disproportionately affects my riding, because a lot of those NGO social service agencies that were cut back were targeting areas just like mine. I don't mean “regional analysis” as geography, so much as Atlantic–Pacific, but how it affected socio-economic divisions.
Senior Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
It was not as fine as, for example, the municipal level.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Thank you very much.
We have very little time left. I'm going to let Mr. Kramp ask one question, and then I'll go with one very short question from Mr. Alghabra. We'll then end the meeting.
Conservative
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
I think a key word in anything that we do in life is “follow-up”. It is easy to make a commitment but it's very important to follow up. This is the only way to ensure that the commitment is kept or accounted for.
When the President of the Treasury Board was here, we were identifying savings. He noted that there would be a progress report coming out in the fall, or later on next spring. Could you give us an update on the status of this progress report? Where are we with this situation? Has there been any evaluation of the program to date? Where do you see this going? When would the report be available? We need it to be able to pass effective judgment on the decisions the government has made.
Senior Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
One aspect of the progress report would be represented by the supplementary estimates, which the president tabled this week. It showed to Parliament $224 million of specific areas that had been asked for but will not proceed.
The other aspect of that, if I understand the question, would be in respect of the broader review of the expenditure management system and how the government intends to move forward. The president referred to the commitment in the budget that he would be bringing forward a response this fall. This is still our plan.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
I want to highlight the frustration that many Canadians are expressing in light of the $13.2 billion surplus. It's not that they object to cuts. Occasionally cuts make sense. Perhaps a significant portion of the $1 billion cut is appropriate. But a lot of the cuts, close to $300 million, are unsettling for Canadians. Adults who need help with literacy, aboriginals, women, minorities, youth—all these groups have been directly affected by the cuts, which will have a negative impact on their lifestyle and their future.
You explained the process of examining evidence and information before deciding what to cut. I know the decisions are in the hands of the political ministers. Did the recommendations to make that $300 million in cuts come from public servants? Did they come from you? Or did you just provide the information and the direction necessary for decisions made by the ministers?
This is a straightforward question, and I would appreciate a straightforward answer.
Senior Associate Secretary, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
The straightforward answer is that we as officials provide advice to our ministers. Our ministers make decisions.
At the last meeting, the president tried to explain the full scan of government programming that went on prior to the bilateral discussions among ministers and among deputies. We took all possible steps to make sure we understood the risks and ultimately the decision-making process undertaken by cabinet.
So did we make recommendations on $300 million worth of proposed changes? We put in front of ministers what we thought was appropriate advice. The ministers ultimately took the decisions. That is the best answer I can give you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Thank you for coming before us. We really appreciate it. I hope we didn't give you too hard a time. Merci beaucoup.
This meeting is adjourned.