Evidence of meeting #16 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
What I can tell you is that, on our Web site, we have posted a geographical map showing the areas for which we have asked private sector players to make submissions. The framework through which we have defined the areas remaining to be served is therefore already public knowledge.
As Mr. Masse was saying earlier, we must not forget the contribution the CRTC will be making once it has reached its final and definitive decision.
9:50 a.m.
Bloc
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
It is more difficult to identify the real needs with little coloured dots.
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
You could search on our Web site. Our geographical maps are quite precise.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm glad to have a few more minutes.
The numbers we see here: are they net of any revenues? Are they net numbers or are they gross numbers?
They're net numbers? Okay.
Does the Ministry of Industry have any revenue sources, other than taxes, of course? Can you give me a list of the kinds of things that Industry charges in terms of user fees or anything you have that you gain funds from?
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Can you give me some examples?
I think Johanne has some examples
9:50 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
Yes. We have a number of them. The ones that are not re-spendable, which are things like fines for infractions under the Competition Act, or spectrum licensing, go straight to the consolidated revenue fund, so they would not be in the main estimates. But you would see the details in the report on plans and priorities and see how much--
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So are there some that you are able to collect that stay with Industry?
9:50 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
Yes, those would be for when we're allowed to recover our fees, our operating costs. For example, one is the cost of processing. A company wanting to incorporate themselves pay a fee and we retain that to pay for the staff and the necessary equipment. We need to do that.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
Well, we have four organizations, and we're in the range of $68 million or so. But if you add CIPO to that, we're talking about another $140 million or $150 million or so.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
9:55 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
No.
9:55 a.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
No, they love our service.
9:55 a.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
9:55 a.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
But the biggest one is CIPO, the patents office, and CIPO has a revolving fund, so that fees are paid with the submission of patents and copyright, and those fees are used to offset the costs of administering that.
I mean, there are rules around the fact that this can't be a profit centre for Industry Canada.
9:55 a.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
We have to line up over time--over time, not at every instant in time--our reasonable costs with the fees that we charge. I think it's safe to say that we don't get a lot of criticism from our clients on the question of fees.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Okay.
There's another question I have for you. I'm a firm believer that we had to do the stimulus funding, but I'm also a very firm believer that we have to get back to a more balanced approach than we've had. I prefer to do it internally rather than what has happened in the past, where we've taken money away from some of our partners and not transferred money and so forth.
For an organization such as Industry Canada that's had a significant increase, an increase of two and a half times, in getting back there, there are a number of issues I have in terms of hoping that happens. But one of the programs that I hear positive things about over and over again--and I think the minister mentioned it too--is IRAP. What is the future of the IRAP program in your view, from the staff perspective? Do you think it will play a more significant role or maintain its money? Where do you hope to see that go?
9:55 a.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I have two points. One, the amount the IRAP received under the economic action plan was a top-up to an existing base. Secondly, there was a reference, I believe by Mr. Masse, to the R and D review. This is one program in that context that would be looked at in terms of effectiveness as to whether it deserves more money.
Thirdly, I would say that within the initial launch of FedDev there was some additional IRAP money targeted to southern Ontario. In some ways there was a double supplement that occurred for this program.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Just in clarification on what you said earlier, in Bill C-9we have some more money for Genome Canada. In the budget it looks like there's a decrease--I can't remember if it was a decrease--to $48 million or something. So this budget doesn't reflect what's in Bill C-9, of course, because it was done long ago in the fall, right?
9:55 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
No. This is a timing issue. This was printed before--
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So that number is not really accurate based on Bill C-9 if Bill C-9 actually passes and becomes law. Is that correct?
9:55 a.m.
Director General, Resource Planning and Investments Branch, Department of Industry
That's correct.
