Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 29th, 2012

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

I'll take a lot less than that.

On the topic of reduction and efficiencies, we've talked about security forces, but we also see a little white bus that goes around this place. I just wanted to know if there are any thoughts about combining the service and reducing redundancies. Little things like that can have a cost. Certainly we don't want to promote just painting it green. What we would like to do is combine the service, because often it drives around here empty. So I just wanted to know the thoughts on that, and what the savings would be by reducing that service or making it more efficient.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

I can say that as the board underwent its strategic and operating review to find the savings, the clerks management team of the House of Commons administration really did look at everything. At this point, there may not be specific plans that would go down to the detail of how many buses are going where, but certainly overall objectives have been assigned to each different department with the hopes of finding some savings. As it's fully implemented, I think you'll see some of these efficiencies found in every area around the House.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Williamson talked about flight passes. My family flies very rarely, actually. I mean, there are six of us. It would definitely be well utilized by families like ours. I guess the thing we would like to see is that instead of being prevented from using it, allow it as an option, especially for those with bigger families. I know you have the same kind of family. It would be a nice option for us, anyway. So just make a note of that.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

I appreciate that. As Mark said, we want to make sure that members are protected, that they don't find themselves in a situation where, at the end of the calendar year, they thought they were going to use them and didn't, and they're on the hook for the obligation for that. At this point, we are very interested. I think it's safe to say the board is very interested in them. In fact some members of the board are quite keen on them. We can monitor it as it goes and see how it works for members, and how much money it's saving. Certainly if we're able to expand it to other family members in a way that protects individual members while still achieving the savings, I think it's safe to say we'd be open to it.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Absolutely. Thank you.

That's all I have.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you very much.

We are pretty much at our time, so we will thank our guests today. Thank you for the great information you were able to share with us.

We will ask the committee a couple of questions.

Shall vote 15 under the Privy Council carry?

PRIVY COUNCIL

Chief Electoral Officer

Vote 15—Program expenditures..........$29,501,000

(Vote 15 agreed to)

Shall vote 5 under Parliament carry?

PARLIAMENT

House of Commons

Vote 5—Program expenditures..........$290,904,000

(Vote 5 agreed to)

Shall the chair report these votes to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you very much. That being done, the meeting is adjourned.