Government Operations Committee on June 7th, 2016

[Karen Cahill]

Let me clarify one thing, Mr. Blaney.

The amount of $1.4 million that we requested was included in the supplementary estimates (C) in 2015-16. It was not included in the main estimates. That is why today we are asking again for $1.4 million for 2016-17. It was not included in the total of the main estimates when we met on May 3.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Ultimately, you are asking for $18.5 million. You are talking about information technology and we are wondering whether this is not becoming Prime Minister Trudeau's propaganda centre.

In May 2016, the President of the Treasury Board said that new rules were going to be created and that the government would eliminate partisanship. One of the rules was that there would be no government advertising with an MP, a minister or the Prime Minister. At the same time, a federal agency goes ahead and makes an ad with the Prime Minister for Destination Canada, so here we go.

Minister Brison was clear that the rules apply to all advertising, even on social media. As the saying goes, it seems that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. It’s “do as I say, not as I do”.

Are there mechanisms to ensure that the rules are followed? Since the Privy Council Office is the Prime Minister’s department, are you able to apply the rules that have been established by the Treasury Board on advertising, for instance, to ensure that they are being followed properly?

[Stephen Lucas]

Mr. Chair, as Mr. Blaney said, the President of the Treasury Board, Mr. Brison, announced a new government communications policy on May 12. If I’m not mistaken, this one replaces the old policy from 2006. The policy includes some key elements such as a definition of non-partisan activities.

The oversight of advertising is being undertaken on an interim basis by Advertising Standards Canada. In addition, that will be supported by a review by the Auditor General in regard to that oversight of advertising.

The policy also confirmed that deputy heads are responsible for approving public opinion research and that the government intends to move ahead on its mandate commitment in regard to engaging parliamentarians on the oversight of advertising.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

In the end, who is responsible for the oversight of advertising, Mr. Lucas, in your explanation?

[Stephen Lucas]

At present, based on the new communications policy and the interim measures that Minister Brison announced on May 12, Advertising Standards Canada is responsible for reviewing federal advertising on budgets greater than $500,000 relative to the definition of non-partisan.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

So this advertising council is under the authority of the Auditor General.

[Stephen Lucas]

No, Advertising Standards Canada is an independent third party body.

The government also indicated that it will ask the Auditor General to review the advertising oversight it conducts relative to the policy to ensure that it's being undertaken in that regard.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

We certainly agree with the rules that were set by Minister Brison. We would just like to ensure that they are applied, and obviously it seemed that it was not the case in that particular case involving the Prime Minister in a publicity stunt on social media.

To get back to this modernization of the web tool, as I get back to the initial question, it is said that you are asking for $1.4 million on top of the five additional employees who have been hired for the new appointment process. Is that correct?

[Stephen Lucas]

Yes.

As I indicated, the funds we are seeking through the supplementary estimates in regard to supporting the Senate process are to fulfill several functions, one through the PCO secretariat through the five employees to support the work of the independent advisory board, plus to support the expenditures of that independent advisory board, including their travel.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Sorry, Mr. Blaney, the time is up. Perhaps you could continue in the next round.

Mr. Weir, you have seven minutes, please.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thanks very much for coming and for your presentation. I, too, am interested in the new Senate appointment process.

How many Canadians have applied, so far, to become senators?

[Stephen Lucas]

I'm just going to see if I have that information here.

There was an initial round, as you are aware, and the government will be launching the permanent phase shortly.

I would note that, in the transitional process or the process that was completed with the announcement of the seven senators, the advisory board reviewed a total of 284 candidates. Then, as the permanent process is launched to fill the further vacancies, a website will be opened and Canadians will be able to apply directly as opposed to just being nominated by someone.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Were the senators who were appointed among those 284 applicants?

[Stephen Lucas]

It is my understanding, yes.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Okay.

What sorts of qualifications are going to be posted for Canadians who are applying to become senators?

[Stephen Lucas]

I'm just going to find a very specific answer.

There are specific constitutional eligibility requirements including age, citizenship, net worth, real and personal property, and residency. In addition, the government has established criteria with respect to gender, indigenous and minority representation, and non-partisanship. The overall process will work on the basis of merit-based criteria that will help to assess a candidate's knowledge of the legislative process, personal qualities, and other criteria related to his or her level of expertise in the legislative process and public service.

These criteria will be posted.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

You cited non-partisanship as one of the criteria, and I guess I'm wondering how that is assessed in an application.

[Stephen Lucas]

I don't have that information at hand. There is information posted on the website of the Minister of Democratic Institutions, but we would be pleased to follow up with the committee to provide that information.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

I would definitely welcome that.

I also want to follow up on the secretariat at PCO. We've talked about the five employees. Have those people been hired, or is it an ongoing process?

[Stephen Lucas]

It is indeed an ongoing process. A manager was hired. There are a number of staffing processes under way, and temporary staff are being assigned to help support the process as we run through staffing processes.

Mr. Chair, if I might, my colleague Karen did provide me with information from the website pertaining to the definition of non-partisanship that would set the criteria. I can read that now, or we could just provide it to the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Mr. Weir, would you like it read into the record or just provided?

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

I think if you have it in writing, you may as well just provide it and save some time for other questions.

Given that it sounds as if the staffing of the secretariat is at a fairly preliminary stage, who is reviewing the 284 applications that were received?

[Stephen Lucas]

I would say two things. The role for reviewing the applications and providing recommendations to the Prime Minister falls to the independent advisory board, which comprises three federal nominees and two nominated by provinces. They provided the five recommendations for consideration by the Prime Minister.

The secretariat support—and we allocated staff during the winter from other duties to help this initial phase—helps facilitate the meetings of the committee, but the actual work is done by the independent advisory board.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Those board members were in place and they were reviewing the applications with some help from other PCO staff.

[Stephen Lucas]

That's right. Also, we're now bringing in the permanent secretariat staff to help the process going forward.