Evidence of meeting #19 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 projects.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I would like to follow up. You told me that you have an investment of basically $1 billion per year. Is that roughly what you're investing per year on your projects?
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
We're spending roughly $1 billion. It was $950 million last year and we have the national defence....
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Okay, and you have many interesting projects, especially the fleet facility project. You have many projects scheduled. You will hire 175 more employees, correct?
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
I think I said 150 approximately. It depends on—
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
It will be responsive to how the program grows, Mr. Blaney, so it could even be 200.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
How many people in total do you have already?
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
As of today we have roughly 875 employees, so we have already grown from where we reported at the end of the last fiscal year, but we will go to 900 this year.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I'm going to ask a question that's a little bit out of the box. When I was at Public Safety, there were discussions that Canada needs a new government operations centre, a new emergency centre to coordinate all the activities. That is more under Public Safety. Has there been any thought given to the fact that you have the expertise to undertake major projects, that you could be involved in that new government operations centre, or is it news to you at this point in time?
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
It's more the latter. It's news. I can tell you that our minister has the authority to ask us to do additional projects. That's why, for example, we're doing the Shared Services Canada data centre. They're not part of National Defence. We stand ready to support special infrastructure requirements if government makes the decision.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
You did CSEC. Am I correct? You did the brand new top class—
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
The CSEC P3 project, we delivered that.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
You certainly would have the expertise to build this crucial facility for the Canadian government.
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
Thank you for recognizing that. Even in National Defence, for example, the fire hall at Esquimalt is also designed to be the post-disaster government operations centre that would operate to do military but also civilian response.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
You have expertise in the procurement of those facilities.
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Construction Canada
Absolutely. That's what we do.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
It's probably at the prehistoric age with the current facility.
How many—
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Erin Weir NDP Regina—Lewvan, SK
I was wondering if the Canada Lands Company is overseeing the possible redevelopment of the former Kingston Penitentiary.
4:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Lands Company Ltd.
We are currently involved in discussions both with Corrections Canada and the City of Kingston to understand what the possibilities are there. Frankly, that's a subject of collaboration with the mayor. Bob has been in conversations and meetings with the mayor to engage the public about what their expectations are. That's a work in progress. We need to make sure that we see a fit for Canada Lands in the aspirations that the community has for that.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Erin Weir NDP Regina—Lewvan, SK
Could you tell us a bit about what some of the possibilities might be?
