Government Operations Committee on Nov. 26th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #43 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was project.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Supplementary Estimates (B) 2009-2010: Vote 95b under CANADIAN HERITAGE, Vote 1b under GOVERNOR GENERAL, Vote 1b under PRIVY COUNCIL, Votes 1b, 5b and 7b under PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES and Votes 1b and 15b under TREASURY BOARD

Large Information Technology Projects

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Corinne Charette Chief Information Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat

John Rath-Wilson Chief Operating Officer, Information Technology Services Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Valerie Wutti Executive Director, Information Technology (IT) Project Review and Oversight, Chief Information Officer Branch, Treasury Board Secretariat

Christine Payant Director General, Product Management, Information Technology Services Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Alex Lakroni Acting Chief Financial Officer, Department of Public Works and Government Services

John McBain Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Renée Jolicoeur Assistant Deputy Minister, Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

5:25 p.m.

Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

John McBain

That transfer, no. They were already planned through our A-base. This just reflected what we did with our economic action plan. When we put out the plan it was very early days, so we put in indicative numbers and it was noted in our Treasury Board submission that we may need to move the money, depending on which projects were selected to go forward.

5:25 p.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Renée Jolicoeur

I will have to get back to you, Madam Chair, because I don't know.

5:30 p.m.

Acting Chief Financial Officer, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Alex Lakroni

No, Madam Chair, but I would like to clarify a point that was made earlier. You asked us under the sales lease-back to provide you with the list of assets, the advisers, within two weeks.

It came to my attention that all the business cases and analysis were provided to the committee in a previous Parliament, including the advisers--Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank, and Deutsche Bank. So my question is, do we still need to provide you with that information?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

I am advised by the analyst that we have the information.

Madam Hall Findlay.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON

That's great then. Thank you. Sorry for asking for information that we didn't have with different people changing.

But I think there was a mention of additional other consultants that may have been involved. You've listed three banks. We understand them to be advisers, but could you commit that there were no other consultants or people involved in those? I mean, they're seven pretty big dispositions.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Madam Hall Findlay, we will look at what information we have--

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON

No, sorry, Madam Chair. We were told that we had the list of three advising banks, and I'm asking that if there were other consultants involved, could the identity of those also be provided?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Yes, Mr. Warkentin.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB

Madam Chair, as a point of clarification, we as a committee undertook a report of this entire issue some months ago. I know that there's a report and all that information was available and asked for. So I know that our analyst would be able to get that information. We as a committee--

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

I have a clarification question to ask Mr. Lakroni.

Did you state that there were additional consultants on the file? If you did, then it's a valid question that Madam Hall Findlay is asking.

5:30 p.m.

Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services

John McBain

Madam Chair, I was responding to the question. When I was referring to consultants, I was referring to the banks, because we did use two banks as part of the initial plan and then we had Deutsche Bank come in and provide advice on the advice that we were being given. Those are the consultants I was referring to in my response.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Okay.

Thank you very much.

5:30 p.m.

Acting Chief Financial Officer, Department of Public Works and Government Services

Alex Lakroni

Thank you, Madam Chair.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

The only business we have is to let you know that Mr. Minto is coming for two hours next Tuesday and that we will be voting on estimates on Thursday, after we are finished with the Treasury Board.

The meeting is adjourned.