Evidence of meeting #84 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
I have a point of clarification because I am not exactly sure what we're going to be voting on. Does the rest of Madam Duncan's motion remain the same?
12:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Yes. The only amendment made to the motion was to include the word “subcommittee” and to look at inviting the Minister of Public Works and Government Operations and officials to appear if their schedule permits.
1 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I just want to raise a question. I remain procedurally puzzled. I thought the decision was to defer this and refer it to the subcommittee. So, how is it that all of a sudden it comes before this committee again?
1 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
As a separate motion, he moved to amend this language. He essentially brought up a separate item. Your language, his amendment, it became a matter on the floor as that.
1 p.m.
NDP
1 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
No, it's open on the floor now as amended.
All those in favour of the motion as amended? Opposed?
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Braid, you had one minute of time left to deal with the witnesses.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Thank you very much. We certainly look forward to a discussion about this particular item at subcommittee business.
I have a final question for the officials. I wanted to ask Ms. d'Auray to elaborate on the workplace 2.0 initiative. Specifically, could you provide us with an update on that initiative, the benefits that it will bring to the federal government workplace, and the impact that particular initiative will have on cost savings over time as well?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I briefly mentioned in my opening remarks that in the interest of time, I would ask Mr. McBain to give us a brief overview of the status of the initiative at this particular juncture.
1 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Workplace 2.0 is about creating a better work environment for the federal workplace. One of the benefits that it does bring in terms of savings for the taxpayer is a smaller footprint. To date there are seven projects that have been completed in conversion to workplace 2.0 and there are over 100 projects that are under way.
Over time, as we implement it through all the federal workplaces, we will bring our footprint down to a smaller size. We'll save money in terms of our lease and operating costs. We are creating a more open and transparent, and I would argue greener, workplace, which is important for recruitment and retention of federal workers.
It also allows us to collaborate significantly with our colleagues at Shared Services Canada. We house 105 different departments and agencies. As you can imagine, in the past, there were a lot of vertical arrangements for IT and informatics. We now work exclusively with Shared Services Canada to implement a much more effective and technologically advanced workplace that also saves money for taxpayers.
1 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Thank you, Peter. Thank you, everyone.
That's it for rounds of questioning. We're going to thank our witnesses for attending on behalf of their minister to present and defend the main estimates for 2013-14.
I think you as the departmental officials must have sensed how profoundly disappointed we are not to have the minister here to defend her own estimates. It's fundamental to our Westminster parliamentary democracy, and it's in keeping with a comprehensive, in-depth study we just did to make our examination of the estimates more robust. It was bad enough when ministers used to come here for two hours, and later we were told they could only stay for one. Now they don't come at all. I can't imagine what could be so important, other than a death in the family or a severe health crisis, that it would keep the minister away from this most important meeting.
Anyway, it's not your problem, not your fault. Thank you for coming and doing a good job and answering our questions.
The meeting is adjourned.