Government Operations Committee on June 16th, 2020

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Maybe I'll ask you take a look at that specific one and maybe you can get back to the committee as to why Treasury Board approved it when they didn't actually have a plan for the money.

I'm going to get to something else.

When we had the PBO with us last week, we talked about leave code 699 in Treasury Board. We asked the PBO about it. I understand Treasury Board is following up with the PBO about it. I'm just wondering whether you are going to meet the PBO deadline for providing this information and whether you would be able to provide the aggregate information to this committee as well on the use of code 699.

[Glenn Purves]

I think to be expeditious in terms of this, we can undertake to get back to you on that question, Mr. McCauley.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Good. I'm asking if you would commit to providing this committee with the aggregate information on the use of code 699.

[Glenn Purves]

I think we'll commit to getting back on the question first and foremost.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay. I think you might be pushing our hand another way, but thanks.

In the supplementary estimates, there are pay list requirements, the $82.5 million.

[Glenn Purves]

That's correct.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

What clause got amended in one of the collective agreements that brought this about, who benefited, and over what period of time is this money for?

[Glenn Purves]

As committee members might know, a pay list is for a change in terms of conditions for employment. It's for maternity and paternity leave, or the condition of—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Yes, I know. I'm aware. I'm just asking for the breakdown of what the $82.5 million is for.

[Glenn Purves]

It's for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in recognition of the collective agreement they concluded and to provide funds—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay. Can you give us a breakdown, please, of that $82.5 million, whether it is made up of pure salary, pension adjustments or money for other amendments? Would you provide that to committee, please?

[Glenn Purves]

We can undertake to get back to you on that.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Can you provide it to the committee?

[Glenn Purves]

We can undertake to get back to the committee on that, yes.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Are you trying to say you will let us know if you'll provide that or that you will provide—

[Glenn Purves]

No, we'll get back to the committee.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

You'll provide that to us.

[Glenn Purves]

Yes.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

Next, with regard to the disability insurance plan, the $395.8 million, I know generally what that is about. I'm just wondering if you can provide a breakdown. How much is due to added public service employees? How much is for added benefits they're receiving? Is there a change in actuarial numbers?

[Glenn Purves]

I'll let my colleague Karen Cahill answer that one.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Karen, as part of the follow-up question, we asked PCO about the employee engagement survey, in which 40% of all public servants said they were working in a psychologically unhealthy environment. How much is this contributing to our added costs in the disability insurance plan?”

[Karen Cahill, Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat]

In effect, the $395.8 million we're asking for for the disability insurance plan is to cover two things. One is a lump-sum payment of $320 million that we have committed to the insurer, to reimburse the insurer. This is mainly to re-establish the health of the plan. As per the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, OSFI, we need to keep a 40% surplus to keep our plan in good health. This is to contribute to that.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

What's the balance?

[Karen Cahill]

The balance would be a lump sum, which is to account for an increase to 20% in the payment. As you know, it's 15%—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Of this $395 million, how much is from an increase in the amount of FTEs in the public service and how much is an increase in the use of this disability fund, again looping back to the 40% of public servants saying they're working in a psychologically unhealthy work environment?