Evidence of meeting #86 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 phoenix.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I'm sorry. I thought the question was for Ron, so I apologize. I wasn't fully—
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, please.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Okay.
What is the cost of each stock-keeping unit on your portal, where people can purchase pens and other office supplies? Do you already have a system for all of those things?
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I'm sorry. I don't mean to be.... It's just that I'm not sure I understand exactly what the question is.
Marty, do you have something on that?
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, we do, absolutely.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
By “SKU” do you mean a new item?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Marine and Defence Procurement, Department of Public Works and Government Services
I think the question is referring to our Buyandsell.gc.ca website, which is where we post all of our tenders and where suppliers can go every day to look for opportunities.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Yes, and I'm assuming that you don't necessarily know what it costs.
Mr. Parker, I would also like to know this. Do you have a completely separate buy-and-sell system for tech?
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. Whalen, your time is up, but Mr. Parker can answer the question.
9:50 a.m.
President, Shared Services Canada
We do at times use Buyandsell.gc.ca. It depends on the nature of the goods and services being acquired.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Wow, a whole three minutes.
Deputy, I want to pick up on something you just said. In terms of staffing, there was the long term and there was the short term. If I understood correctly, you said that in the short term you would prefer more staff or that's an area where you could use more staff. Is that correct?
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
That is correct, and we've made that very public. If there are compensation advisers who want to come and work with us, we will hire them to help us get through the—
9:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Here's the thing. Here is why that kind of struck me. Up until now.... When I read this and listen to the testimony, it all sounds like you've done everything humanly possible. The argument the government members have made is that this thing is a huge problem, and the Cons and the Libs keep fighting about who screwed it up. Let them fight that one over.
The idea is that everything is in place to deal with this, yet I'm hearing that there is a major gap. I don't understand why the government hasn't responded. To me, the second the minister heard—and I assume she has—what you have to say and that you need more people for the short term, that would have been the priority. I agree, it would have been on par with the flooding crisis. This is a crisis for people. Anyway, help me.
9:55 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
It has been. We had no restriction for that. What I am saying is that we can't get these people. We've shaken the trees. We went to the union—
9:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
If the media reports that you were prepared and you have the money and the authorization to hire all these people but they are not out there, that's the problem.
9:55 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
We've asked compensation advisers within the government, and even from outside, whether they want to come and work, and help us. We've said that. It's out there.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Have we reached out to other Commonwealth countries? In other crises, we've reached out beyond our borders to bring.... This is a crisis. People are hurting. Families are hurting. I've just heard about a major gap in the government's activities, and I'd like to know why that gap is not backfilled. You are telling me that everything is there except the people, and I find it hard to believe that's the end of the action.