Evidence of meeting #42 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agency.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Ms. King, getting back to some of my earlier comments, I'm always intrigued with what an audit doesn't talk about, and it doesn't talk about the performance of the program.
I would like to give you an opportunity to put that on record. The agency is now in its fifth year since it was established in 2009. You may need some assistance because you have just been there since July, but could you comment on some of your major accomplishments?
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
I will look to my colleagues who have been deeply involved over the last number of years. As for major accomplishments, I think as we have heard here today, I've a strong track record of working with partners and communities: partner governments, partner communities, partner individuals to review and work with proposals for advancing economic development across the north.
Michael was saying that one of the reasons we can move forward is that we work so closely with people who wish to advance economic development in the north. That track record of investing in diverse economic development opportunities is quite significant.
A second item hasn't been raised by the committee here today, but early in its five-year tenure CanNor was also tasked with setting up and implementing the northern projects management office, which is working to facilitate the passage of major projects through the regulatory systems in the north and set that up in just a couple of years. It too is proving to be highly effective in coordinating and facilitating very efficient, timely movement through the regulatory system, again with the partnership of first nations, territorial governments, and all decision-makers. That also has a very strong track record, and I think we can see commendation from governments, the communities, and the private sector itself.
Those are two very strong tracks.
We also have a third element. We do policy research and analysis that allows us to more deeply understand the issues, some of which we've talked about at committee today, substantial issues facing northern development. Part of our role is to advocate on some of these issues in an informed and deeply analytical way to policy decision-making and policy advice in Ottawa. We've also brought significant, and I like to think deep, understanding of northern challenges and issues to diverse tables and diverse discussions with our colleagues in the federal government.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
That's good. Thank you.
What would be your key priorities for the next five years?
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
I'm going to look it up because this is aligned with our RPP, and I just want to make sure I am very complete.
Our theme going forward is building a strong north together. I'll speak to the building part but I will emphasize again the “together”. Almost everything we do is in partnership with the territorial government and with many communities and individuals across the north.
Our priorities include community development, working with those communities so they can be ready for and engage in and continue to develop economically.
A key part of that also, might I add, is the capacity side of community development. We have diverse engagement, whether it be through our Gs and Cs or our work as individuals with communities across the north to help them build the capacity to take on further and more mature economic development.
On enabling infrastructure, I think, as noted in the early part of the report, infrastructure in the north is needed. We work greatly with communities and government levels to try to enable infrastructure development in the north across a wide variety of fronts, and to engage a skilled northern workforce, whether it be through our northern adult basic education program or a diversity of other engagements. We work closely with the northern community colleges as well to try to enable a skilled northern workforce that's ready to participate in this emerging northern economy.
Those are our three priorities going forward.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Bryan Hayes
Thank you. The time has expired.
We'll move on to Mr. Giguère, please.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I thought I was done, but my colleague has given me some of his time. It was very kind of him.
Since you have increased your number of staff considerably, can we expect your organization to be proactive when it comes to processing files? Could it help more people document their applications, better prepare them and direct them, a little like a local development centre does? Are you in a better position to play this role now?
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Yes, certainly. With increased resources, we can carry out our mandate more easily.
I have great confidence.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Right.
Of course, the fact that you now support applicants more closely will facilitate the processing of these files. Your agency will be in a better position to have an overview of the files and they will be done properly.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Very good.
With respect to your partnerships, I would like to know whether you have the right to ask financial institutions to provide information on someone who has received a grant from you, so that you can better monitor the financial progress of a project.
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
No, we don't work directly with financial institutions to receive financial reports. We work with audited financial statements from the proponents themselves. These statements have been thoroughly audited by certified accountants.
Vice President, Policy, Planning, Communications and NPMO, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
I would like to add something.
The agency's role is to support businesses or individuals who cannot go to the banks. That is why the agency exists. We work to provide ongoing support to these organizations and businesses.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Very good.
In some areas in northern Saskatchewan and northern Quebec, there is a commitment by the co-operative movement. The goal was mainly to make up for the absence of large institutions, which are generally located in southern Canada.
In that respect, do you intend to encourage the development of the co-operative movement in the far north?
Vice President, Policy, Planning, Communications and NPMO, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
I don't have a lot of information on that. Having said that, we may need to work together. There is the agency, but there are other organizations as well—and not necessarily banks—including aboriginal financial institutions that provide some support. Some federal crown corporations provide this in the far north. A wide range of organizations can provide support, and not just co-ops.
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Exhibit 6.1 indicates the size of your economic intervention.
Should we expect your budgets to increase in the coming years or will they stay the same?
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
We are currently making the most use we can of the budget we have, and as Michael noted we are able to respond essentially to all the requests that come in.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
As we know, populations in Canada's far north are experiencing a demographic explosion that can be attributed to an increase in the economic integration associated with the development and exploitation of natural resources, and to the economic demands in terms of local infrastructure and staff training.
In this growing economic context, do you expect that your organization will be sought out more and, if so, have you made any forecasts regarding your future financial needs?
President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
We haven't done anything like that.
That being said, it's a bit of a trade-off. As more economic development proceeds and communities are more capable to build their economic development, yes, I would look forward to an increased demand and increased participation in building the economy going forward. At the same time, we want to enable sustainability in independent businesses that can make their way independently too.
So I think our results would be a trade-off of both going forward.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Bryan Hayes
Thank you.
We'll move on to Mr. Woodworth for our final round of questions.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Ferguson, there is unfortunately a trend in some circles today, when policy cannot be criticized, to smear reputations and to insult the ethics of people in government. It is done with sly innuendo and rumour. Quite frankly—not that it matters to anybody else here—it disgusts me more so because the victims are unable to publicly defend themselves.
I'd like to ask you what I believe and hope is a categorical question, and for which I hope it's capable to have a yes-or-no answer. Having examined a number of projects of this agency, can you point me to any evidence in your report that demonstrates that any single one was conducted in a manner that violated the values and ethics code of conduct of this agency?
Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
We didn't audit specifically the value and ethics code. What I can say is that we did not see any evidence that concerned us that there was any wrongdoing in any of the files we looked at.
But I can't answer your specific question on whether all the attributes of the code of ethics were followed, because that wasn't a specific part of the audit.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
I hope the fact that you found no evidence of wrongdoing will be of some comfort to anyone in this agency whose ethics have been smeared today.
I'd like to ask you a little bit more about the consultation with territorial stakeholders. I would expect that when you say that, you are referring to the governments of the north. Was anyone else involved in those consultations, or did you mean simply consultation with other governments?
Either of you can answer that.
Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Mr. Chair, perhaps I could start.
The consultation included of course the three territorial governments, but it also included other major stakeholders located in the territories—larger NGOs, private sector companies. It really was a consultation that tried to capture what people across the spectrum of interests wanted to raise with respect to economic development.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Those people came together collectively with this agency and set out priority areas for investment, as I understand 6.15 of your report. Is that correct?
Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
That's correct. A five-year investment plan was finalized for each of the territories. That covered the years 2009 to 2014.