Official Languages Committee on May 10th, 2012

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No, but to the left of the column it's for 2012-13.

The proposed spending the commissioner has made is $20,611,000.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Yes, but a little earlier, he referred in his testimony to $21.9 million. So there is a difference of approximately $700,000.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes, because in that amount are statutory amounts that include benefits....

I'll ask the commissioner to clarify the difference between the $21.9 million he mentioned in his opening remarks and the $20,611,000 that appears on the Privy Council's summary.

[Graham Fraser]

My understanding is that this relates to a number of statutory amounts that we are obliged to pay out, but I will ask Madame Cloutier to respond in greater detail.

[Lise Cloutier]

The numbers the commissioner mentioned in his speech are the numbers that we put in our report on plans and priorities, which is our planned spending. The main estimates are the moneys that you are voting on.

The planned spending includes an estimate of what our carry-forward will be, plus other spending authorities, so it's not the same amount.

What you're really voting on is the main estimates, which is the base budget.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, understood.

Thank you, Mr. Godin.

The commissioner has proposed expenditures of $20,611,000.

Subtracting the statutory amounts, the remaining amount that the committee is being asked to approve, it is $18,361,000.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Vote 20—Program expenditures..........$18,361,000

(Vote 20 agreed to)

Shall I report vote 20 of the main estimates to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much to the committee members and to the Commissioner of Official Languages. We very much appreciate your testimony.

Without further ado, this meeting is adjourned.