Evidence of meeting #8 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Could I ask you about one other type of expenditure, then?
I wonder how much money is earmarked for making the act more transparent, since there have been discussions in the House. I think a motion was passed that we would review the Investment Canada Act. I think at the time it had the support of all parties; regardless, it passed in the House. How much money is earmarked for that?
3:50 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Well, we prepare an annual report on the Investment Canada Act, which is published on our website. The costs of preparing that report are taken care of within the overall budget and are the responsibility of the office that has all of these general responsibilities related to the act.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
I'm going to switch topics completely to try to sneak in one last question.
This is with respect to the anticipated end of the chrysotile asbestos industry. Why do requested funds for operating expenditures to support the economic transition of communities affected by that end represent, at $300,000, just 16% of the total requested amount of $1.9 million?
3:50 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I believe that is a question that would be better asked to CED-Q, which is the regional development agency in Quebec that would be responsible for that. They have their own deputy minister and minister.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
December 4th, 2013 / 3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to thank our guests for being here this afternoon.
As much as I think that the estimates are always interesting, I think the supplementary estimates (B) are even more interesting, because they really—
3:50 p.m.
An hon. member
You need to get out more.
3:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
No, but I do. I say this within a limited scope and with clear proof that there's no Mensa test to become a member of Parliament.
Let me ask a question of you, Ms. Morgan.
You talked about the objectives at Industry Canada. One thing you talked about was requesting access to royalties from various intellectual property items arising from research. One thing that I have a particular interest in, simply because I used to own a legal search firm as part of my past, is what Mr. Enns discussed in his point eight, the intellectual property associated with that research for basically name searches and all.
I guess what I'm trying to understand, if you could help me, is this. Royalties are revenues; that's how I define them, but you're looking for $2.1 million to expand research.
That's what I think you said, Mr. Enns.
Help me square that, so I understand why on the one hand you have a revenue generator but that it isn't covering itself and/or needs more money for investment into research in intellectual property. Can you help me understand that better, please?
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
Sure. The item you're referring to is for software or a system that permits people who are searching for a trademark or the name of a company to access that themselves.
The way the arrangement works is that this is done by a third party who uses our product, and they pay for the intellectual property. That revenue we receive is then reinvested in the maintenance and improvement of the product. That's how it works.
That's an arrangement that has existed across the Government of Canada since the 1990s. Departments are permitted to reuse revenues that are generated in the course of—
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
Okay.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
I don't mind that you receive royalties for that purpose, because I know third parties do charge out for that. I guess what I'm trying to understand is that you don't do this on a cost recovery basis, it sounds like. It still sounds like it costs more, because of the updating of research and all, than the revenues, than the royalties you receive. Is that correct?
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
No.
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
The revenues are deposited into the consolidated revenue fund, and then we seek them back through the estimates process.
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
Right.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Are you breaking even or are you making some dough on this? How's it going?
3:55 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
We're breaking even.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
I want to know if I paid too much when I used to own that company. That's what I'm curious about.
3:55 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector , Department of Industry
It's a break-even service and—
