Transport Committee on Nov. 6th, 2018

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

That's mostly governmentese you're speaking. Let's put that into something that the folks listening can understand.

[Natasha Rascanin]

In the case of Yamachiche, which Mr. Aubin was talking about, I'm told that example dealt with a particular pilot not following a specific order during a flooding situation. The interim orders that are being proposed to be enacted, which the minister would have, would be a tool that could be used in that situation to action something specific that is otherwise unforeseen, such as a weather event or whales moving into an area where they have never been in the past. That is a new additional flexibility for the minister, to be able to act in those very unforeseen contexts.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

With respect to the process under way, the budget implementation act, is the inclusion of all of this in this bill somehow necessary to actually get the money allocated to make things happen? Is that why it's here?

[Natasha Rascanin]

Sorry, the money allocated...? Are you talking about—

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Why are these provisions in this bill? What function is being served by having these provisions in this bill?

[Natasha Rascanin]

They are important commitments under the oceans protection plan.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Do they need money?

[Natasha Rascanin]

For the ship-source oil pollution fund to have unlimited authority, yes.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Okay.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Next is Mr. Liepert.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Ms. Rascanin, you are the assistant deputy minister. Is that correct?

[Natasha Rascanin]

Yes.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I've had the privilege in the past of delivering a budget at the provincial level, and I know from experience that departments are given somewhere in the range of 45 to 60 days to submit their proposals for the budget.

Can you tell me when you were given direction by the Department of Finance to have your submissions in for this particular document?

[Natasha Rascanin]

Well, this is budget 2018. The budget process usually starts in the fall.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I'm talking about this particular legislation.

This particular document has to go to print. That can take up to a month, or more.

[Natasha Rascanin]

Yes.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

What was the deadline you were given to have your submission in for this particular document?

[Natasha Rascanin]

We were proceeding on developing—

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I want to know a specific date.

[Natasha Rascanin]

I don't have a specific—

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I presume there was a memo sent by the Minister of Finance to your department indicating when you had to have your submissions in for this particular document to be included in it.

You're the assistant deputy minister. You should know that.

[Natasha Rascanin]

Respectfully, there was no memo from the Minister of Finance.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Okay, so was this actually something that the Department of Transport wanted in here? Is this something that maybe showed up from the Department of the Environment, and the Department of Transport had to go along with it?

[Natasha Rascanin]

The decisions around legislative amendments are approved by cabinet and looked at.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Were they recommended by your department?