Government Operations Committee on March 1st, 2018

[Matthew Shea]

Mr. Chair, there's a tour team from PCO, if that's what you're referring to—

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Yes.

[Matthew Shea]

—which falls under my area, and they are going with the Prime Minister for logistical support, secure communication, audio and video support, and that type of thing. However, they are not there to provide advice on protocol or anything like that.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Okay, but the question was actually about cost. You deferred the question to Global Affairs.

[Matthew Shea]

Mr. Chair, when my team travels with the Prime Minister abroad, the costs related to them are charged to Global Affairs and disclosed by Global Affairs.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Okay.

[Matthew Shea]

All costs are captured in one way.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Okay.

I think what I'm going to do then, Mr. Chair, is move the motion that I put on notice on February 5:

That the Committee invite the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to provide an update on the progress made by the Working Group of Ministers on Achieving Steady State for the Pay System, and that the meeting be held no later than March 29, 2018.

This issue has been going on and on. Canadians in the public service deserve results and deserve the restoration of their pay and the ability to receive accurate pay information. I move that we call the minister for that purpose no later than the 29th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

For the benefit of the committee, that motion has been received and is in order.

Mr. Kelly, you've moved the motion and you're first up if you wish to speak to it.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

I would like to.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

We'll assemble a speaking list if others want to chime in. Can you indicate to the chair who would like to speak to it?

Madam Ratansi, Mr. Blaikie—

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

We've repeatedly heard the talking points from various ministers and officials who continue to say that this is their top priority, that they are leaving no stone unturned, which was the latest comment. I know what she meant, but given how little progress has been made on this, one wonders whether they are literally looking under stones for a solution. This goes on and on. There is nothing concrete that we can see that has resulted in thousands of public servants having restoration of their pay and benefits.

We know that this is a problem that snowballs. It continues to expand exponentially because of the government's inability to get on top of it and correct the problems. Many Canadians, certainly on the opposition side, and the many public servants, don't understand and can't understand why adequate resources weren't applied to solve this problem when it first arose. The warning signs were there. The government ignored them. Standing up in the House day after day and saying that they feel for those affected and they are going to do what it takes to get it done....

Now is the time for results, Mr. Chair. I think it's time that we had the minister come before this committee and give us—not just a 30-second talking-point answer in question period—a detailed explanation and accountability for this problem, and get this problem solved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Thank you, Mr. Kelly.

Madame Ratansi.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, thank you very much.

As the subcommittee, we probably have the minister coming before us for supplementary estimates, so I would call the vote on this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

I'm sorry, could you repeat that, please?

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

I said that since the subcommittee had discussed it and I believe the minister is coming for supplementary estimates, I do not see any further discussion and I'd like to call the vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

To do that, Madame Ratansi, it would have to be a motion in proper order, and just calling for a vote is not.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Okay, I'll call that the debate be now adjourned.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

That comes with a vote that occurs immediately.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Can we record it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Certainly.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 3)

Mr. Kelly, you have, by my estimation, probably less than 30 seconds left in your five-minute allocation.

We will now move on to Monsieur Ayoub, for five minutes, please.

[Ramez Ayoub, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will take advantage of the Privy Council Office officials being here to get into the details of the Impact Canada Initiative. The initiative is said to have two aspects.

The first aspect has to do with clean technologies. $75 million will be invested over the first two years to reduce the reliance on diesel in rural communities. I would first like to quickly discuss what is currently being done, as far as the plan for the first two years goes.

I would also like to know how far along the planning is when it comes to the $300 million spread out over 11 years planned in the smart cities challenge. What kind of participation is there in the competition that was launched for Canada's communities and municipalities?

[Matthew Shea]

Mr. Chair, as I mentioned at the outset, the Impact Canada initiative is a secretariat that supports the various departments. Individual departments are responsible for the ultimate objectives of the program, the spending, and any of those types of questions. The questions that have been posed by the member are not questions that I could answer as a PCO official. They're better placed with the individual departments, be that NRCan or Infrastructure Canada.

[Ramez Ayoub, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Okay.

An additional $1.4 million has been requested.

How are requests related to the Impact Canada Initiative analyzed and accepted? Is that more within your purview?

[Matthew Shea]

Mr. Chair, if I can just clarify the question.

The question is around what is the $1.4 million that we're asking for specifically for?