Government Operations Committee on May 4th, 2020

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Welcome, colleagues. I call this meeting to order.

Colleagues, prior to getting into the introductory remarks, I would like to point out to you that this week marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and the victory in Europe. The Prime Minister has asked that at two o'clock all Canadians observe a moment of silence for our veterans who participated in the two conflicts, and I would ask all of you to please join me in a brief moment of silence before we start our meeting.

[A moment of silence observed]

Thank you, colleagues, and thanks to Mr. Kusmierczyk who brought this to my attention.

Colleagues, this is meeting number nine of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. Pursuant to the order of reference of Saturday, April 11, 2020, the committee is studying the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before we start, I would like to announce that the next meeting of this committee will be Friday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. eastern time. The schedule for the meetings next week has not yet been published, but it has been agreed upon by the whips. The clerk will be sending out a notice of next week's meetings very shortly.

Lastly, in terms of instructions, we will be having 15 minutes of discussion about future witnesses at the conclusion of today's meeting. Since we have to conclude by 4 p.m. sharp, I will be drawing this meeting to a conclusion by 3:45 this afternoon. Also, colleagues, I would like you to know that the officials from the TBS and the Department of Finance have some very, very brief opening statements and so we will be devoting the entire two hours with all of the witnesses here today to questions from committee members.

Colleagues, you are all aware of what we need to do, having participated in these virtual meetings over the last number of the weeks, but for the benefit of our witnesses I would like to remind you of a couple of quick facts if you haven't participated in virtual meetings before.

Wait until you are recognized before you speak. Make sure that when you are speaking you unmute your microphones or we will not be able to hear you. If you are going to be speaking in English, please, in the interpretation bar at the bottom of your screens, click on the English channel. Conversely, if you are speaking in French, click on the “French” button. If you use the “floor” button, you will be able to speak in both official languages, but I suggest that if you are switching from one language to the other, you pause just for a moment to allow our interpreters to catch up.

Also, on the subject of interpretation, I would ask that all those speaking today speak slowly and clearly so that our interpreters can translate effectively and accurately.

Colleagues, before we get started, I ask, particularly those of you who are new to this committee, that you click on the grid at the top right of your screen. That will take you to gallery view and you will be able to see all participants in this meeting on one screen.

We will begin our meeting.

I will ask Mr. Purves from the Treasury Board Secretariat for any opening comments he may have, followed by officials from the Department of Finance. We'll then go directly into our questions from committee members.

Mr. Purves, the floor is yours.

[Glenn Purves, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Thank you, Chair.

Actually, I don't have an opening statement to give. We'd be happy to just go directly to questions by members and to statements by our Finance colleagues.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Thank you very much.

We'll now go to the Department of Finance.

[Andrew Marsland, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance]

Mr. Chair, I am the senior assistant deputy minister of the tax policy branch at Finance. Let me make some very brief opening remarks.

First, thank you to the committee for the invitation to appear today to answer questions.

As you know, the department has been busy supporting the government's economic response plan, and I think as the committee is also aware, we table, on a bi-weekly basis, a report on that plan with the Standing Committee on Finance. I'm sure committee members have access to that report, so I won't go through the details of it, but I'll just say that it covers many of the measures of direct support, liquidity support and support for specific sectors.

We'd be happy to answer any questions the committee may have today. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Thank you very much. We'll now go directly to questions.

We will start with Mr. McCauley for six minutes, please.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Welcome, everyone. It's good to see you. I'll start my questions with Treasury Board, please.

Mr. Purves, could you update us on the estimates process? What are the plans for the spring estimates?

[Glenn Purves]

Certainly, and just in terms of when we step back, let's take it in two chunks. The first part is the main estimates. As you know, those were tabled—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I'm sorry, but could you be as brief as possible?

[Glenn Purves]

That's fine.

There was a recent motion that required us to table another appropriation act for main estimates in June and then a final one in December. For main estimates, our plan normally is that we transact in two appropriation acts. This year, we'll be transacting in three appropriation acts. We will be tabling an appropriation act in June that will provide funding until December, and then the final in December for the rest of the year.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Does the government plan to use the GG warrants authority that is provided for in Bill C-13?

[Glenn Purves]

As you know, from March 13, in terms of the motion that was concluded and the change in the FAA, GG warrants can be used during a period when Parliament is adjourned—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Oh, I know they can be used, but are there plans to use them right now?

[Glenn Purves]

At this juncture, I can't comment. I don't.... It's very hard to see week by week whether there is an intention to do so. The only thing I will say is that we are planning—on just part of your last question—alongside providing for full mains supply, to have tabling of supplementary estimates (A) as well.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay.

[Glenn Purves]

[Technical difficulty—Editor] revisiting doing that in June.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I'm going to move on.

What standing do the departmental plans have in the current environment?

[Glenn Purves]

When you say—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

They were tabled, obviously, just about a month ago. Are these documents still valid?

[Glenn Purves]

They remain valid as it pertains to the planning for the year as it pertains to the main estimates. In terms of any updates and so forth through the year, typically those are reported through the departmental results reports.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Yes, so the accountability options are still valid for the funding noted in the DPs, then.

[Glenn Purves]

I think the intention is to ensure that departmental plans best reflect plans—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

As fast as possible—

[Glenn Purves]

—for main estimates, but given the fact that it has been an extraordinary year that we're entering, the departmental results reports that report on this current fiscal year would take into account the extraordinary circumstances as well.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Is any or all of the COVID-19 spending undergoing the usual Treasury Board approval process?

[Glenn Purves]

In any instance where Treasury Board involvement is required or there are programs or policies pertaining to the spending, Treasury Board, and through TBS, has been involved with respect to ensuring that authorities are in place. There's nothing that's been approved that is proceeding, and where it has required a TB authority to be considered or TB to consider it, it has not been considered.