Marcel Massé

[Federal Public Service, March 13th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, our remuneration policy for senior public sector executives, as my hon. colleague has most correctly stated, is to increase their salaries by close to 8% over a period of 4 years.

In general, our policy is the same for the other classifications, that is to say about 2% yearly, for 4 years. The agreements with unions will vary according to the economic conditions of each branch.

As for the auditors, there are other compensations complementing the collective agreement. We are very pleased to have been able to reach an agreement.

[Questions On The Order Paper, March 12th, 1998]

Negotiations were undertaken in April 1997 to resolve the longstanding pay equity complaints filed by the Public Service Alliance of Canada PSAC. The negotiations were based on job evaluation data being considered by the Human Rights Tribunal. The tribunal is currently deliberating on the issue of a methodology to measure and correct pay inequities between predominantly male and female occupational groups. The tribunal is expected to render a decision sometime after March 31, 1998. While the tribunal is deliberating, there remains an opportunity for the employer and PSAC to resolve the complaints through negotiations. However, after several meetings PSAC tabled a counter proposal valued at approximately $5.3 billion. PSAC was informed that this counter proposal could not serve as a basis for further discussions and that a more reasonable conter proposal was required. No further meetings have been held since December 8, 1997.

If no further progress can be achieved through negotiations, the parties will await the ruling by the Human Rights Tribunal. At this time no further meetings are scheduled between the parties.

The issuance of cheques will be automated to the extent possible. Departments are also doing some preparatory work to accelerate the issuance and delivery of cheques. Once the final amount of the pay equity adjustments has been established, cheques to current employees should be issued within weeks. Cheques to former employees will follow.

[Questions On The Order Paper, March 9th, 1998]

The Treasury Board is responsible for establishing the required policy framework within the Government of Canada with respect to the management and security of computer systems and networks.

Departments are responsible for protecting sensitive information and assets, such as computer and related systems, in accordance with Treasury Board policies.

Under the government security policy, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, is identified as a lead agency in physical and information technology security. The RCMP has been providing basic security advice to departments for many years which no doubt has reduced the number and impact of the occurrences of the theft of entire computer systems and components. In addition to the ongoing advice and guidance to departments in the areas of physical security and information technology security, the following specific measures have been taken:

Departments are encouraged to consult with the Treasury Board Secretariat, TBS, on matters of computer security and meetings are held with departments following the theft of computers or components. While TBS can work with departments to help establish additional methods of securing government assets and information, a theft should be reported to the RCMP in order for an investigation to be conducted.

The Deputy Comptroller General Branch at TBS is responsible for the policy of security for government assets. A document entitled “Guide to the Review of Material Management” is posted on the department's web site located at www.tbs-sct.gc.ca under Contract, Material and Risk Management. The main objectives of this policy are focused on the reduction of physical losses, optimizing the utilization of resources and ensuring value for money.

A guidance document entitled a “Guide to minimizing computer theft” was issued in June 1997 and is available at the RCMP's Internet site.

A RCMP investigator was seconded to the Ottawa-Carleton regional computer component theft team.

Each federal government department has a departmental security officer to deal with the RCMP. This individual is responsible for security issues particularly with respect to personnel and information technology.

Departmental security officers are members of an association that allows them to consult and share information on security issues. Each officer also reports to their respective deputy minister to keep him or her updated on matters of security.

A number of physical security devices were tested in government to lock down systems and prevent systems from being opened. For instance, computers can be bolted down to desktops.

One hundred per cent security is unattainable in any setting, nor would it be desirable because of prohibitive cost. We feel that with departments implementing the advice provided, component theft will be kept under control.

[Supplementary Estimates (B), March 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 81(5) and 81(6), I would like to table a motion to refer the estimates to the standing committees of the House.

Therefore, I move:

That the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, laid upon the Table on March 9, 1998, be referred to the several Standing Committees of the House, as follows:

As there is a lengthy list attached to the motion, if it is agreeable to the House, I would ask that the list be printed in Hansard as if it had been read.

[Pay Equity, March 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, once again on the question of pay equity the government has made a very generous offer. It is now only a matter of the unions to answer that offer. We have gone from about $300 million to $1.3 billion. During this time, the unions have not even moved from their position. If anything they have increased it.

In the circumstances we are in favour of pay equity. We will continue to fight for it for the women who deserve it.

[Main Estimates, 1998-99, February 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 81(4), as revised for fiscal year 1998-99, and 81(6), I wish to introduce a motion concerning referral of the estimates to the standing committees of the House.

There is a lengthy list associated with the motion. If it is agreeable to the House, I would ask that the list be printed in Hansard as if it had been read.

I move:

That the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, laid upon the table on February 26, 1998, be referred to the several standing committees of the House in accordance with the detailed allocation attached.

[Pay Equity, February 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the simple truth is that the commission has not made a ruling.

What is important now is that we have made an offer of $1.3 billion for pay equity. The union has refused to put it to a vote by its members. For the common good, I once again ask the member to put pressure on the syndicates and the unions so they will put this offer to their members.

[Disaster Relief, February 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in the cases of the last disasters that were covered by the DFAA, the arrangements for disaster compensation, there have been parallel agreements in the Saguenay, in Manitoba and now in Quebec. We have applied the same rules and the same precedents in all these disasters.

[Small Business Assistance Programs, February 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have met with my colleague Mr. Brassard, Quebec's intergovernmental affairs minister, four times in three weeks to try to find a basis for an agreement to provide assistance to small and medium size businesses, which are currently facing considerable financial hardship. I met the business owners themselves and they told me action was urgently needed.

After meeting with Minister Brassard on Wednesday, I followed up with a phone call on Friday to remind him he had told me he would give me an answer—

[Infrastructure, February 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada infrastructure works program has been and continues to be successful. The federal government invested $2.3 billion in more than 16,000 infrastructure projects that have created over 125,000 jobs.

The program was implemented in co-operation with the provinces and municipalities, and we intend to pursue it until March 31, 1999.