Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 27th, 2020

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I believe that the current framework could be improved to streamline decision-making. I don't view myself as the final arbiter of decisions where there is a disagreement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Mr. Turnbull, you have six minutes.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Minister, thank you so much for being here. It's really great. I really appreciated the opportunity to tour the Centre Block and see the incredible work being done. I was really impressed by your team, the amount of information they provided, and the attention to detail. It's really clear to me that you have highly competent people working with you.

I have three questions.

My first one is about sustainability. I'm a sustainability expert who came into politics just this term, so it's always been an area that's important to me. As we know, in this Parliament, energy efficiency, clean growth and sustainability are becoming imperatives for all of us. It's something that Harvard Business Review called the new mega-trend about seven or eight years ago, which they had sort of paralleled with information technology.

If you think about sustainability, in the next 100 years it's going to be something so commonplace that I'm interested in knowing how Centre Block might be an opportunity to showcase how innovative we can be and how committed we are to sustainability as a country. Can you tell me about what opportunities you see?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you so much.

As Mr. Wright likely told you, we are committed to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across government buildings, including the precinct, and greening our operations. The precinct has become a model of what can be achieved in meeting tomorrow's sustainability targets while protecting and preserving the heritage of the space.

Sustainability targets are built into every project in the LTVP. I am proud to say that we are exceeding these goals. We are similarly reducing our construction waste with each project by recycling 90% of demolition materials.

I will ask Mr. Wright if he has anything further to add on this issue.

[Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services]

That was a really good overview, Minister. I'll just add a couple of pieces of colour commentary.

We are, I think, doing a really good job here in the precinct, and we're reaching further, as the minister indicated, with the Centre Block, for it to be a symbol of sustainability. We have made a range of efforts across the precinct, from solar panels to green walls to urban beehives at the Senate of Canada Building, for example. But, the core is really about making sure that we have very efficient mechanical equipment, harvesting of rainwater and modern lighting that consumes a lot less energy. We are working hand in glove with the modernization of the central heating and cooling plant as well, which will provide multiple benefits for the whole central core of the capital, including the parliamentary precinct.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thanks very much. It's great to hear that this is being made a priority.

The 42nd Parliament undertook two separate studies to foster a more family-friendly House of Commons. Several recommendations were made on that front. I have a young family, so it's of particular interest to me to know how we can ensure that the new Centre Block creates an environment that is more family-friendly for people and members like me who have young children and young families.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you so much for that question. As a mother of four, I share concerns about family-friendly environments. I think, as elected members of Parliament we are all concerned about families and space being accessible to families and other individuals, persons with disabilities, for example.

Accessibility is a huge issue in the renovation and restoration process. By making the space more accessible, we are also making the space more family-friendly. We have increased the size of elevators in the West Block, for example. That has allowed for strollers and motorized wheelchairs to be used around Parliament. We've also enlarged and upgraded washrooms to provide for changing spaces across new buildings.

We have heard that this is a priority for members of Parliament, and it is something we are taking on board as we proceed with the restoration of Centre Block.

Rob, did you have anything to add on that?

[Rob Wright]

I think that's perfect, Minister.

As the minister indicated in her opening remarks, engagement with parliamentarians is the critical foundation to ensuring that the Centre Block meets their needs. We are completely open in wanting to have that engagement to understand how the facility, as part of its modernization, can meet the needs of parliamentarians. The nature of parliamentarians has changed a lot over the last 100 years, and will continue to evolve. We want to make sure this building meets the needs of parliamentarians when it opens and for generations to come.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thank you. That segues perfectly into my last question, which is about governance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

You have 20 seconds.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

There are several clients or key stakeholders, including the Senate and House administration, MPs and senators. Have you any thoughts about the optimum governance model? I think there is some preference for a joint committee, but potentially we could see two independent committees with some mechanism for resolving any differences between them. I'm wondering whether you have a preference for one or the other.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you, again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Make it very short, 10 seconds.

I think the other members will pick it up.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Okay, then let's proceed to that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Mr. Therrien.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Thank you.

Madam Minister, thank you for joining us today and for making an effort to speak French. We appreciate it.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

How much time do I have left, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

You have six minutes.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

I won't use all my speaking time because I want to leave some time for my colleagues.

From what I've read and heard, what caught my attention was the fact that you delivered previous projects on budget. We ask a lot of questions about budget and costs here. However, we were not necessarily convinced that there was a particularly firm budget. Of course that is a bit worrisome.

You said in your presentation that previous construction projects in the parliamentary precinct were delivered on budget. Are we talking about the initial budget or a budget that was subsequently adjusted for some reason?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Yes, you are exactly right. I care a great deal about

budgets and I think it's very important to review budgets from time to time.

I just remind the committee that West Block, the visitors welcome centre, the Senate, 180 Wellington Street, the Library of Parliament and the Sir John A. Macdonald Building were all delivered on time and on budget.

There are revisions to the budgets that occur from time to time, but those are discussed with the parliamentary administration. I want to stress that at no time do we go off on a frolic of our own and decide our budgetary parameters without consultation.

I will hand it over to Rob Wright to continue with this point.

[Rob Wright]

Thank you.

As the minister said, we have a very solid record when it comes to on-time delivery.

In answer to your question, those were initial budgets.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Okay.

[Rob Wright]

Those were Treasury Board budgets, and we stuck to them.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Okay.