Government Operations Committee on Nov. 4th, 2020

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

The answer is: first, it was out of respect for the work of public servants; second, respect for the capacity of taxpayers to pay for the important work of the public service. Third, if you look carefully, Mr. McCauley, you'll see that—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

With a trillion-dollar deficit, you say they have the capacity for more spending. Wow, that's very generous of you, on the taxpayers' backs, Minister.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

I you look very carefully, you will see that there is a declining scale over the settlement, which is reflective of the advice and comments you have just provided.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. McCauley, your time is up.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

It's about 60% higher than the declining scale of the private sector, if you look at your own website, Minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Order, please.

Mr. Drouin, you have five minutes.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. By the way, please make sure when a question is asked that we can hear the answer. I'm having a hard time understanding, particularly in a virtual meeting.

I would like to thank the minister and the senior officials for joining us.

Some members often think that we are responsible for the everyday tasks and that we should do more micromanaging. That is not usually our role. Ours is more like a board of directors. We take care of governance and it is up to the public servants to do the professional work, as they have.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we received feedback from all members of Parliament. This feedback was essential. As a member from the national capital region, I would like to thank all public servants, who did incredible work. If you had asked me a year ago whether it would be possible to create a program in under a month, I would have said no. But we did.

Mr. Minister, I would like to thank you, your team and the entire government.

I would now like to return to the various questions Mr. Green asked. I would like Ms. Hassan to finish commenting in response to Mr. Green's questions, including the one about the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

I will turn it over to Ms. Hassan immediately afterwards, but cannot refrain from telling you that what you have just said about the public service is extremely important.

Over the past few months, we have had a clear demonstration of the fact that public servants are dedicated, even in very difficult personal and family circumstances. We are greatly indebted to them.

Indeed, in only three weeks, public servants delivered the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. At the outset, many people, including some members of this committee, wondered whether it was really possible and had some doubts. But we proved that it was possible and, thanks to the capacity and commitment of the public service, we got it done.

That's it for me and I will now turn it over to Ms. Hassan.

[Sandra Hassan]

Thank you for your question.

I'll add to my colleague's answer.

The process is in its early stages. A legislative framework and a regulatory framework will come into force in the next few months. That will be followed by negotiations with bargaining agents at every stage. Many elements therefore remain to be put in place and negotiated, and the regulatory framework isn't finalized yet. Consequently, the estimates that were made were very preliminary. We won't be able to provide those public figures until we've finished implementing the legislative and regulatory frameworks as well as the negotiations that will lead to the initial agreements with the unions for potential pay equity adjustments. So we'll be pleased to do that. At this point, however, we're too early on in the process to have those kinds of figures.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

In other words, you're being asked—

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Mr. Drouin, if I could interrupt for just a brief second, I want to give you a heads-up that you have one minute left for your question and your answer.

Go ahead.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

In other words, Ms. Hassan, you're being asked how much time you've put into finishing this marathon whereas you're only halfway there. A lot of work remains to be done before everything is finished. Once you have the final figures, you'll forward them to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, as you do in every case. At the moment, these are estimates. A lot of work remains to be done on this matter.

[Sandra Hassan]

I think you're being generous in saying I've reached the halfway point in my marathon because I feel I'm just getting started.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I see.

I'm going to ask another brief question.

Mr. Minister, I know you're a firm believer in the two official languages, the importance of which we have often emphasized. However, some of my colleagues have alleged that you sign all the contribution agreements to ensure they respect the official languages. I know that's not the case. Yes, there was an official languages provision in the agreement. Now, this is a hypothetical situation.

Minister, am I right in saying that you don't sign all the contribution agreements that go through the Government of Canada? That seems impossible to me.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

I think there's been a misunderstanding. People are probably in good faith, but this is a source of confusion that should absolutely be shut down. You have to have a better understanding of how the machinery of government works.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Drouin.

We'll now go to Ms. Vignola, for two and a half minutes.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you very much.

According to page 22 of your 2020-21 departmental plan, the Treasury Board Secretariat is working to ensure a healthy workplace, which is laudable and something we all want. In 2018-19, 59% of employees felt their workplace was psychologically healthy.

COVID-19 changed a lot of things. Has a survey recently been conducted on that issue?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Mrs. Vignola, I'm very pleased you asked that question. I'm quickly going to hand over to Ms. Hassan on that. However, as you suggest, COVID-19 has definitely caused a lot of anxiety and problems—

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Can you give me a quick answer? Pardon me, Mr. Duclos, but I only have two and a half minutes.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Yes, the secretariat has done some significant things. Ms. Hassan is the best person to answer you.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you very much.

[Sandra Hassan]

Thank you.

A great deal of work has been done on mental health issues to provide employees with the necessary tools.

With regard to your specific question on the survey, I must say it's not yet complete. However, we absolutely intend to conduct surveys to ask employees how they are doing. They may respond to them anonymously.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Perhaps Ms. Hassan can quickly answer my next question.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

To improve the psychological climate, what firm has been asked to provide employees with mental health support and what are the costs associated with that support?