Government Operations Committee on Nov. 25th, 2010

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Right. And then vote 15b.

[Christine Walker]

That is the $137 million, which is to fund departments and agencies for the costs related to the signing of collective agreements, and these are retroactive adjustments that are prior to April 1, 2010.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I appreciate this. This is helpful, because we have gone a distance into other directions this morning, but as a committee, of course, we're responsible to look into these respective votes.

I think we've had a full airing of at least these respective votes. There's going to be some interest, I think, from our committee to address other issues that were brought up today, but I just wanted to get a final clarity to ensure that I wasn't misunderstanding what we were voting on today and to bring us back, as a committee, to the responsibility of our committee to look at these respective votes. So thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Are you finished?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I am, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Then Madame Coady.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

My colleague.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Kennedy.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

There was an earlier comment about the government's success in terms of jobs and so on. I think people need to understand that we have 3,000 fewer jobs still, compared to before the recession, but more importantly, we have 115,000 more part-time jobs. So it's the transfer of full-time jobs to part-time. And probably the most important of all, there are 350,000 more unemployed now than when the recession started. So I think people listening to this committee hear the various accountabilities about spending, but there's still a basic economic job to get done in this country that isn't getting done by the current government.

I still would like to try to find out where we're at in terms of some of the questions that my colleagues raised.

On the government's plan to exact expenditures, can anybody here table what the economic impact is going to be in terms of job loss and so on? Clearly, if there are going to be cuts in government, there's going to be cost containment, there are going to be fewer jobs. So what is the jobs implication of some of the numbers we're hearing about? Is there anybody who can give us that kind of estimate?

[Marilyn MacPherson]

I can't.

[Christine Walker]

No, I'm sorry.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Sorry...?

[Christine Walker]

No, I'm not available to provide that information.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I'm sorry, I apologize. I'm having a little bit of trouble--

[Christine Walker]

I apologize. I can't provide that information. I don't have that information for you.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

But the Privy Council, for example, I'm sure must.... These things must be fairly advanced. The government is coming here with reports on certain areas where they're underspending and certain areas where they want to spend more, but in a general framework that we're headed for.... I think it's appropriate for the committee to ask for the level of preparation there is.

Privy Council and Treasury Board, for certain, are key parts of whatever job is going to get done on the management side. I think it's also fair to ask, in the context of 350,000 more unemployed, how many unemployed is the government planning to add as a result of its cost management program review? Or use whatever euphemisms you want to use here.

I think it's fair for Canadians to know about that side of the ledger, as well as the financial side. Is there any indication or undertaking--

[Marilyn MacPherson]

I'm not aware of who would have the responsibility for that, even inside PCO. I can certainly inquire.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Would someone have responsibility? I think Canadians would be interested to know that an increase in the number of unemployed, the result of government actions, would be something that would be monitored by this, or any government.

[Marilyn MacPherson]

I expect it's a shared responsibility between Labour Canada and the Department of Finance. I suspect there are a number of departments, as well as Treasury Board, that are implicated. I'm just not sure who has the single accountability for rolling it up.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Okay.

Ms. Coady.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Thank you.

I do want to get back to the vote 10 question I was about to ask, and this is for Public Works and Government Services. The funds associated with vote 10 will provide funding to pay for set-up costs--accommodation, basic operating costs, salary costs--associated with ministers' regional offices program, for administrative support to federal cabinet ministers.

Could you tell me which offices are being set up, and for whom? Maybe you could give me a cost comparison from previous years, please.

[Christine Walker]

It might be under Treasury Board; it might be under Public Works.

[Alex Lakroni]

The program is with Public Works, but vote 10 is Treasury Board votes.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Can I ask Treasury Board, then, please?

[Christine Walker]

I don't have the list of which ministers' regional offices would be refurbished under this $2.5 million. My understanding is that the $2.5 million was to enhance the security for all the regional offices. We can provide that information.