Government Operations Committee on Nov. 29th, 2011

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

Thank you very much. I'm happy to have an opportunity to update you on Bill C-3.

As you know, the bill came into force on January 31, 2011, and $20.2 million was given over a five-year period to fund the implementation and the registration. As of November 14, we had received close to 23,000 applications, and we have a dedicated team in Winnipeg that only focuses on Bill C-3. We expect to have the 23,000 fully processed by the end of this fiscal year, and we expect to receive between 44,000 and 45,000 applications in total over the next year to year and a half.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Two and a half minutes.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I'm going to share my time with Mr. Wallace.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to steal a little bit of her time.

I have two quick questions in these two minutes. Of the $546 million you're asking for, 25 items make up that number, whether it's in vote 1, vote 10, or vote 5. I'm looking at these things. I can't believe that all these things were resolved or changed between supplementary estimates (A) and supplementary estimates (B)—25 items in that timeframe. Why aren't some of these things already in the main estimates, or why weren't they in the supplementary estimates (A)? I cannot understand how we have so many items in that short period of time. I know you have an answer for me.

[Susan MacGowan]

The President of the Treasury Board tables three supplementary estimates, usually in the late spring, late fall, and early spring—

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Yes.

[Susan MacGowan]

—to obtain authority.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

We know that.

[Susan MacGowan]

To cut to it, timing is the reason why supplementary estimates are utilized by the department to revise its spending levels. Input into the main estimates is really required in the fall. However, new funded initiatives that could support, for example, the federal budget emerge in the winter. The only manner in which the funds can actually be accessed for the upcoming fiscal year is through one of the supplementary estimates. It's really a case of timing.

Also, some of these items within our supplementary estimates relate to certain events or activities that are actually time-sensitive. Requests to re-profile resources from one fiscal year to another could be required to accommodate changes in the number of forecasted applications, for example.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I want to tell you why I asked the question. On my chart of who's asking for what over the last five years, I have everybody's main estimates, supplementary estimates, and what they actually spent out of public accounts. In the department you work for, 17%, 12%, 14%, 15% of your annual spending is through supplementary estimates. I was looking for ways to reduce how many supplementaries we have. You were really good. You have $18,000 in the supplementary (A) estimates. But this one is fairly significant, and there are a lot of items here for us to be looking at. I was a little concerned that we're piling on a bunch of pieces.

My next question is on the math, just so I understand. You say you have set aside approximately $2 billion for the settlement. That's what's in this thing. Somewhere it said about $2 billion was set aside for the residential school agreement. Is that not correct?

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

You are correct. That's so far.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

It's over six years. How much have we spent thus far?

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

There are different components to the settlement agreement. If you take the individual assessment process, $1.2 billion has been spent to date. If you take the common experience payment, we have spent $1.6 billion to date.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

That's over $2 billion to start with, is it not?

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

That's right.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

What is the real number at the end of the day?

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

When the total settlement agreement will be finished...?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

When we are completely done, what are you expecting us as taxpayers to pay?

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

I hate to speculate, because it is claims-driven.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

But you have an estimate that there are about 45,000 more coming in.

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

I'm sorry, that was for Bill C-3.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Okay.

[Élisabeth Châtillon]

If we get back to the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, we're expecting to have a total on the IAP of about 30,000 claims. We've received 23,000 so far. On the CEP, we closed with 101,000 claims. We closed the process last September, but there is still one year of exceptional circumstances, so we'll be getting a few thousand more.

Because it's claims-driven, it depends on how much we will be receiving. The chief adjudicator mentioned that it could be $2.6 billion for the IAP, and that with the additional $1.9 billion for the CEP it could get up over $4 billion. It's claims-driven.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

If there's more time later, I'll come back. Thank you.