Government Operations Committee on March 7th, 2017

[Serge Dupont]

Pardon me?

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

It's in the upcoming main estimates as well, that increase of $1 million.

[Serge Dupont]

Okay.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Then it's correct that it's a million dollars ongoing?

[Serge Dupont]

I'm sorry?

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Is that correct? It's a million dollars ongoing for secretarial services for the selection of senators.

[Serge Dupont]

It will vary over time, but it's in the range of one million dollars. It's for more than the secretarial here. There is support for the advisory committee—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

We asked earlier and they said it was basically printing resumés as they came in, so there didn't seem to be a lot of support for them. I'm just querying about $1 million for—

[Serge Dupont]

Well, there is the capability, of course, the website being constructed in order to receive the applications.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

We asked about that and that was a separate cost as well.

[Serge Dupont]

What I can assure you is that there is more being done than simply photocopying resumés.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Would you be able to provide us with a description? I know you don't have time right now, but could you provide us with the full details of what they're doing?

[Serge Dupont]

I'd be happy to provide you with a description of the work of the Privy Council in support of the Senate appointment process, absolutely.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Yes, and specific to that $1 million.

There is a fair amount of money in the supplementary estimates for consultants for the deliverabilities—you know, supporting the government with its agenda. One of the things that's come up recently with the PBO was the issue of the procurement, getting the promised procurement money out the door.

Is that something that would have been assisted through the deliverabilities, like getting the government agenda pushed forward? Would that have been assisted from PCO, or is that completely separate?

[Serge Dupont]

Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure I understand the question and whether it's addressed to PCO or to Shared Services Canada.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

No, it's to PCO.

You talked about there being $26 million in consulting money for deliverabilities to ensure that the government rolls out its agenda, or that PCO assists the government with its agenda.

[Serge Dupont]

I did not say consultants' money.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay, the consultants—

[Serge Dupont]

No, sorry.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

When you talk about deliverabilities, is that—

[Serge Dupont]

Okay, deliverability is—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

That's probably a question more designed for Treasury Board Secretariat than the Privy Council Office, but Monsieur Dupont, if you want to answer, that would be fine.

[Serge Dupont]

Perhaps to clarify that, if—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

If it's better answered by Treasury Board, I'll ask Treasury Board.

[Serge Dupont]

My answer focused on the expansion of responsibilities as reflected in the main estimates of the Privy Council Office. I made reference to results and delivery unit, which is not consultants, which is not buying services from the outside. There may be a separate issue around the government's overall buy of consultant services.