Evidence of meeting #47 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Daniel Watson  Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification
Monique Collette  President , Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Guy McKenzie  Deputy Minister and President, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Manon Brassard  Vice-President, Operations, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Denise Frenette  Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Pierre Bordeleau  Acting Vice-President, Policy and Planning, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Jim Saunderson  Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Management, Western Economic Diversification

4:10 p.m.

President , Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Monique Collette

Yes. We have taken out the funds from the agency's reference level to cover that writeoff, because it's not a--

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

So it's not something that we'll be expecting to see in future estimates?

4:10 p.m.

Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Denise Frenette

Not at all.

4:10 p.m.

President , Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Monique Collette

No. We inherited it in 1987.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Okay. Thank you very much.

Now I'm going to ask this question to our friends from the Quebec development agency, but it applies to all three of you and, really, it's just for me to understand this.

When I look at your main estimates, at the end, your total was $287.48 million. Then, when I look at supplementary estimates (A), I find the ministry's previous estimate was $287 million. I'm rounding it. Then, when I look at supplementary estimates (B) under Quebec.... Let's go there. In supplementary estimates (A ), we added a bunch of money. In supplementary estimates (A), you got more money from the government, and I'm going to ask you about that in a second.

Then, the total ministry from authorities to date is $435 million, but I can't find that. What I have at the end of supplementary estimates (A) is not $435 million. I have $413 million while at the beginning of this one it says $435 million. I can't follow the numbers.

4:15 p.m.

Deputy Minister and President, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Guy McKenzie

Where did you take the $413 million, sir, just to follow you?

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

The $413 million is for the total ministry out of supplementary estimates (A).

4:15 p.m.

Deputy Minister and President, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Guy McKenzie

Okay. My director general for financial administration has it. We're going to try to answer.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

It doesn't just apply to you. It applies to them all. There's obviously something that I don't understand about how the numbers work. I'm not picking on you. You just happen to be....

4:15 p.m.

Deputy Minister and President, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Guy McKenzie

I told you that you were well prepared when I saw you coming into the room.

Do you understand, Mr. Bordeleau? Go ahead.

November 30th, 2009 / 4:15 p.m.

Pierre Bordeleau Acting Vice-President, Policy and Planning, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

There was a series of adjustments, sir. I'll try to.... On the $287 million in our supplementary estimates (A), we added $125.8 million to the budget. With supplementary estimates (B), which are being examined today, we're adding another $10.8 million.

There were some adjustments. If you'd like the details, we can certainly supply them to you. I don't have those details.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Maybe I'll follow up on that, because you're exactly right. I have it here: the $125 million or so goes to $413 million. Then, when I look at “Authorities to date” in supplementary estimates (B), you're at $435 million.

4:15 p.m.

Acting Vice-President, Policy and Planning, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Pierre Bordeleau

I see what you mean.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Do you see where the difference is? That difference isn't just in your budget. It's a difference in everyone's budget. I just need to know why there is a discrepancy. Why wouldn't that $413 million show up as “Authorities to date”? Have there been other authorities I don't know about?

4:15 p.m.

Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Denise Frenette

I think the difference is that some vote transfers come directly from Treasury Board. One of them that all the regional agencies would have had is the operating budget carry-forward, but we have an allocation that if we don't spend--

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

If you don't spend it, you get to carry some forward.

4:15 p.m.

A voice

That's correct.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

That's not reflected in here, then.

4:15 p.m.

Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Denise Frenette

That's not reflected in there. The other thing is that the Government of Canada created vote 35 to provide quick access to the economic action plan money. We received additional money from vote 35.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

I've been following this, and I've only been here for four years, but--

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC

Not yet.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

--I like these estimates.

Are you going to have a vote before January 23? I'll take you on any time, Sukh.

4:15 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Because in a sense this is an extraordinary year, these supplementary estimates have a lot more in them than what I would say is normal. What is a normal year for an agency? Do you normally have this type of increases in these supplementary estimates (A) and (B)?

Second, what is your planning? You're submitting your main estimates for next year now, I'm guessing, or in the near future if you haven't already done that. Are things built in there? Are we expecting supplementary estimates (C) from you? I'm not a big fan of all these supplementary budgets. I understand that you have to do it because the Government of Canada votes things in turn in the middle and you have to add to your budgets. I understand that, but I'M not a big fan of that.

Can we expect to see fairly large supplementary estimates (C) from agencies or are we pretty well done?

4:15 p.m.

Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Denise Frenette

There are only small items.