Evidence of meeting #120 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was budget.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC
It's the international assistance priorities. That's what I have here, $202.5 million.
11:35 a.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Right. This is a top-up to the existing budget at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. The funding is being transferred from the international assistance envelope, so within the framework, there are monies identified for international priorities, and specifically—
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC
Does this include the Rohingya top-up for donations that was announced by the government at the end of 2017?
11:35 a.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
I don't know about that specific initiative, but I can tell you that this money, $202.5 million, is intended for multilateral programming that is aimed at disaster assistance, humanitarian relief, and grants to multilateral institutions. I believe this might be part of that humanitarian relief, but I would have to confirm that.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC
Then you have the other item that says “help developing countries to address the impact of climate change”. I know it's different. It's very specific to climate change. Would this be going also to Global Affairs, or is this something that you would...?
11:35 a.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
It's also an item for Foreign Affairs. We're talking about $169.7 million. This program is set up with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank. There are two steams to this. There's the Canadian climate change program, which has a global reach. So through the IFC, Canadian money is being pooled with funding from other donors and it is available to support climate change programs around the world. Then there is a second stream, which is the Inter-American Development Bank Canadian climate fund. That is focused on the Americas.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you.
We'll now go to the five-minute round starting with Mr. McCauley.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Thanks. I have some quick questions.
Under the TBS, the $6.3 million for Phoenix, is any of that money being used for outside consultants?
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
The quick answer is yes, but I will kind of tell you how. Of that $6.3 million that we're focused on, $4.9 million is basically to look at, as Brian talked about, taking our HR systems and how they feed pay—
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Depending on what it is, we have several initiatives under way, so there are lots of professional services plus other companies. I'd have to get back to you.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
There are quite a few actually working with us right now.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Perfect. Great.
I've heard stories that the government is going to put out a very large RFP for outside consultants to assist with Phoenix. I've heard stories that it's about a three- to six-month RFP period. I'm wondering if you can tell us about that.
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
I'm sorry, I can't actually. We have posted the request for service but we haven't yet signed a contract.
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We've asked for bids.
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes. We put it out.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
What's the scope of the RFP and what's the value as well, please?
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We were looking for consultants who actually have a very good understanding of the PeopleSoft system. That's our HR system that feeds pay.
11:40 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
That's right.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Okay.
There's money, as there always is, for advertising. In this committee, we actually put forward a report suggesting that the government should move the advertising away from Facebook and more to traditional Canadian companies, local newspapers, etc.
Have you received any direction from the government that this money should be pushed toward that or do you know if this money is going right into U.S. digital media for advertising?
11:40 a.m.
Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
This specific request in supplementary estimates (C) is for Public Works and Government Services. It is digital advertising to support moving Canadians to direct deposit. I'm not part of the discussions on the broader direction of the advertising policy.