Evidence of meeting #20 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was advertising.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Matthew Shea  Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services, Privy Council Office
Ken MacKillop  Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Communications and Consultations, Privy Council Office
Bill Matthews  Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Lisa Setlakwe  Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office
Les Linklater  Associate Deputy Minister, Human Resources-to-Pay Stabilization, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Louise Baird  Assistant Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs, Privy Council Office
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Paul Cardegna
Glenn Purves  Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Karen Cahill  Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat
Alison McDermott  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Soren Halverson  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

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

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

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

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

That's correct.

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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?

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

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—

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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.

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

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

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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?

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

We can undertake to get back to you on that.

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Can you provide it to the committee?

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

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

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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—

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

No, we'll get back to the committee.

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

You'll provide that to us.

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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?

6:10 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat

Glenn Purves

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

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

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?”

6:10 p.m.

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.

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

What's the balance?

6:15 p.m.

Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat

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%—

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

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?