Mr. Minister, the question period is about the procurement of services. We’re going to widen the subject a bit to include office space, buildings, etc. in services.
A few months ago, your government entered into a review of the policy on the sharing of procurement contracts, in the National Capital Region, between the Ontario side of the river and the Quebec side. Before you leave, I will give you a copy of the motion I had tabled in November 2005, motion M-316 that I am certain you know well, to the effect that the calculations are based on the wrong numbers. I don’t mean that the numbers are false, but that all the numbers about Government of Canada-related jobs were not included in the calculations.
I give you the example of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, of Canada Post, of the various museums that are not included in the calculations of the Department of Public Works and Government Services because the latter is not in charge of finding them premises. Moreover, Treasury Board does not consider these bodies as coming under its rule, so that employees of these Crown corporations or agencies do not report to Treasury Board as their employer.
Could you please tell us where you are regarding the sharing of contracts between suppliers on both sides of the river, a division that will be set, one hopes, at 75%-25%? You made a decision that had an enormous impact on the balance wanted when you proceeded to lease, or rather purchase, the JDS Uniphase building for all sorts of reasons that seemed good to you. So, where are we?