Government Operations Committee on May 8th, 2018

[Rodney Ghali, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Impact and Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office]

Sure, absolutely.

I think what you're referring to is the smart cities challenge that was launched last fall under the auspices of the impact Canada initiative. The smart cities challenge is basically meant to be a community-based approach to help bring new and novel thinking to how cities respond to the challenges they have from a social, economic, and environmental standpoint. It builds on a global movement around smart cities challenges to bring in technology to help augment the well-being of the citizens.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Thank you very much.

Mr. McCauley, you have seven minutes, please.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Good afternoon. Thanks for being with us.

In table A2.11 in the budget, there's $1 million for a new process for federal election leadership debates. The process for this was being studied in the PROC committee, the Procedure and House Affairs committee. It's our understanding that they were still studying this and that the policy was rolled out within the budget before the study was finished.

I'm curious. Where did the $1-million budget item come from if the PROC committee hadn't finished with their study of it and with their recommendations? How did we come up with the $1-million price tag?

[Matthew Shea]

The budget indicates $6 million, with the majority being in 2019.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

No, table A2.11 shows $1 million for next year.

[Matthew Shea]

Yes, it's $1 million for 2018-19, and then $5 million for the following year.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Yes. We're good. According to table A2.11, it's $1 million for next year. Where did we come up with that?

[Matthew Shea]

It's a best estimate of what the work will cost in this fiscal year, knowing that the actual methodology of what they're going to do is still being designed. The intent is that there will be a new process to ensure that federal leaders' debates are organized in the public interest and improve Canadians' knowledge of the parties, their leaders, and their policy positions.

The Minister of Democratic Institutions is coming up with policy options and will present something in the coming weeks.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

When did you first get the request to come up with a total to put into the budget?

[Matthew Shea]

The budgetary ask was not done through me. It was through the office that supports that minister, so I can't comment on the exact timing of when they put that together.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

However, the $1 million is in the PCO budget.

[Matthew Shea]

The $1 million is in the PCO budget. Following the budget announcement, it is the best estimate of what they need, based on what they knew at the time. They have not yet announced exactly what—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

So, you weren't involved in the $1 million.

[Matthew Shea]

I was not personally involved in the $1 million.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Was anyone from PCO involved?

[Matthew Shea]

PCO bureaucrats would have been involved, those who support the minister.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay, that's what I'm asking.

When did PCO first get the request for the $1 million, then?

[Matthew Shea]

I don't have that information.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Would you be able to get back to the committee with that information?

[Matthew Shea]

I can.

I can say that it would have been part of the budget process. There is a call-out done by the Department of Finance for budget items. As part of that process, PCO would have fed into that and provided a request with a rationale of what it wants to do.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

What you're saying is that the direction to put this $1 million in came from the Minister of Democratic Institutions.

[Matthew Shea]

I'm saying that it came from PCO, in support of the Minister of Democratic Institutions. I can't speak to the $1 million as I was not part of that calculation.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Can anyone else speak to this?

[Matthew Shea]

They would not be able to speak to it as it is not approved yet. Therefore, we don't have a plan as to the exact way the money will be spent. Until they come up with the exact plan for this initiative, the line item.... I recall that last time you asked some questions about professional services versus salaries. I can't tell you until we know what the initiative will look like. The $1 million is an up-to amount that they would have to justify through a Treasury Board submission.