Government Operations Committee on April 26th, 2022

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. McCauley.

We'll now go to Mr. Housefather for six minutes.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Thank you so much, Minister Fortier, for being here.

I want to say that I have had the opportunity to read the report on whistle-blowers that Mr. McCauley referred to, which recommends strengthening protections for whistle-blowers and expanding the definition of the people who would be protected by the act to include people who inadvertently were suspected of being the whistle-blower when they were not, for example. I definitely support our including in the budget this review of the act.

I was wondering, since we didn't quite get to that, could you give us a wider explanation of, for budget 2022, the amounts that are given for this review and what is planned?

Minister, I'll let you refer to whoever you'd like.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Yes. I will ask Marie-Chantal to move forward but I think, again, it's important to state that our government really believes that we need to move forward with a review and she will give the details.

Thanks.

[Marie-Chantal Girard, Acting Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Indeed, there are two strings of work that are being done concurrently on this issue. We're not waiting. In the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, we are improving the whistle-blower protection. In addition to the training and the awareness that was mentioned by the president, we're also meeting with the managers' communities and all senior leaders are also being trained and informed. We are implementing, through the policy suite reset, an initiative to focus on greater protection and improving the reprisal protection and supports to public servants. To that specific aspect, we fully recognize that it's a very stressful approach and discussion to have and action to post, so through our centre of expertise on mental health we are also developing services that are targeted to supporting potential whistle-blowers and accompanying them in that difficult period.

For the review, $2.4 million was identified in the budget and we will start at the end of the summer, early fall, the work for the consultation preparing review options, criteria, doing the research and meeting with stakeholders for the review of the act.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you so much.

In terms of the other point that was raised, my understanding—and forgive me if I'm incorrect—is that the existing act, no matter how much it would need to be strengthened, would obviously continue to protect those who are whistle-blowers who might have been inadvertently disclosed in the Federal Court. Would that be correct?

[Marie-Chantal Girard]

You are correct.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Finally, my understanding is as well that the documents have now been withdrawn from the court because they were inadvertently disclosed by attorneys in a huge batch of production that had been agreed to by the parties and eventually these were judged to be irrelevant to the case. Is that also correct?

[Marie-Chantal Girard]

I'm afraid I cannot confirm. I don't have the confirmation but we can come back to you with the answer.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you.

Ms. Fortier, as you know, we are both passionate about official languages.

Can you tell us how Bill C‑13 will increase Treasury Board powers in order to guarantee the quality of French and English within the public service and to maintain the status of both official languages?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for the question.

We both care about this issue, as do Canadians and many people within our communities who have been calling for the modernization of the Official Languages Act for many years now. They would like to see clauses that guarantee that all dollars are invested and that all policies are applied. Moreover, they want policies to be reviewed in order to ensure that they are adapted to the various contexts that exist in our country.

Treasury Board powers will be increased, which will allow us to oversee compliance and better evaluate the measures and programs being proposed.

I hope that all parties will support Bill C‑13 which seeks to modernize the 50‑year-old Official Languages Act, so that we can strengthen it.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Just to make sure that we don't think the passion for official languages comes only from the francophone minority in Canada, I'll now ask this in English.

This will give you, as I understand it, the power to go to certain federal agencies and departments that don't respect official language policies as well as others and push them to be better in what they do. Is it correct that you're now an overseeing mechanism across the government?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Well, exactly. We'll need not only to monitor, but also to audit and evaluate how these programs and measures are brought forward by the federal government and how they are working, and to work with the different departments to make sure that these are responding to the needs that we have in the 21st century.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I think that's probably my time, Mr. Chair.

I just want to thank you again. I look forward to working with you on the official languages side.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Housefather.

Ms. Vignola, you have six minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Ms. Fortier, thank you for being here today.

The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer will receive a small increase of $1,174,000 compared to 2020.

My question is straightforward: is this increase really enough given the needs expressed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or is there still some leeway in order to better respond to those needs?

Please be brief.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for the question.

Let me start by saying that we are very grateful to the Parliamentary Budget Officer for the work he is doing.

I will ask Ms. Boudreau to reply to your question, but I believe it is important to say that the amount allows us to take a good look at what we are doing. Perhaps my colleague can provide you with more details now.

[Annie Boudreau, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Thank you for the question.

The budget is based on the number of employees required. The increase that we see in the main estimates is for the number of equivalent full-time positions.

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

If we look at the National Capital Commission in Vote 1, we see a decrease of about $7.6 million since 2020‑21, and in Vote 5, there's an increase of about $8 million.

I would firstly like to know if it is just a simple question of transferring funds from one vote to another.

Secondly, the National Capital Commission was asked to refund amounts owing to the municipality of Chelsea for assessments. Will those amounts be refunded and if so, when?

Thirdly, how many other municipalities are seeing their assessment role being put into question by the National Capital Commission?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Let me start by thanking you for your question.

I know that the National Capital Commission works tremendously hard in the region to respond to various requests and that it also works with the federal government.

I will ask Ms. Boudreau to answer your three questions more fully, but let me just state that over the past year, the situation in Chelsea has been reviewed and I think that the amount will be paid soon.

If we are not able to answer your question, I will send you more information, because I know this is a problem for the municipality.

[Annie Boudreau]

Thank you.

The main estimates for 2022‑23 do not contain any information on municipalities.

You referred to a possible transfer, but it is not a transfer, because those are normally indicated in the supplementary estimates. Amounts in Vote 5, however, can vary from year to year.

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

Thank you.

The residents and taxpayers of Chelsea can therefore expect that the situation will be resolved within the next few months.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Again, I will forward a more detailed answer because over the past year, there have been certain developments between the NCC and the municipality of Chelsea. We will be able to provide you with a better answer once we have made the necessary checks. I don't have the required information at hand.

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

Thank you very much.

Going to Vote 5 for the Treasury Board Secretariat, I see there's no money provided for compensation adjustments.

I was wondering if that meant that the Phoenix pay system is suddenly working properly without us being aware of it. Why are there no compensation adjustments? I'm trying to understand why no funds have been allocated.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Ms. Boudreau will be able to give you a more fulsome answer.

[Annie Boudreau]

Thank you.

You are referring to Vote 5, but I believe you meant Vote 15.