House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2019, with 55% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, I would like to thank the hon. member for Lévis—Bellechasse.
The whole Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system is considered part of the agreement activities and projects when feasible. For example, the numerical environmental prediction program will develop a water management model for the St. Lawrence and, in order to do so, will necessarily take into account the entire Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
The short answer to my colleague's question, Madam Chair, is no. However, I have now found the $88 million to which she originally referred. That is a cumulative savings number over a period of three years.
With regard to total job shrinkage at Environment Canada, those 200 eventual surplus positions represent about 3% of Environment Canada's total staff.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, let me remind my colleague that shale gas falls within provincial jurisdiction, except when it occurs on federal lands.
She is quite correct in saying that we are accumulating scientific evidence from a variety of sources. We would expect to have that information probably later this year or early 2013.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, I want to answer my colleague's question about environmental emergencies, potential pollutant spills, oil spills and the like. The fact is we are consolidating six offices to two, but Environment Canada is not a first responder. I am assured by my deputy and officials that we will continue to provide equally sterling services from those two consolidated offices as we have in the past with six. There are new technologies and applications that we expect to use, but that service will be maintained.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, in response to my colleague, I would first suggest that perhaps the NDP members do a little more original research rather than rely on flawed news media reports as the basis for their questions.
With regard to the environmental emergencies offices, we are consolidating six offices—Madam Chair, do you want me to answer the question?
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Again, Madam Chair, my NDP colleague is using the same selective piece of news media copy that her Liberal colleague used a little earlier. The report on planning and priority is a perfect opportunity for department officials to examine potential risks in the year ahead, and they did. Unfortunately, the paragraph that has been taken out of context was followed by several paragraphs that outline very clearly how we would address that potential risk and how we would maintain the department.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, I just gave my colleague that number. There are 340 affected permanent positions, we believe, and again this is not a precise number. As we go forward, the department and the assistant deputy ministers, in their wisdom, will move these numbers around to ensure that our core services are not compromised. However, we believe that there will be 200 surplus permanent positions by the end of the process.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, my colleague asked about jobs that will be lost and I provided her with a good example of how some of her assumptions are based on misrepresentations and inaccuracies.
With regard to this budget year, 2012-13, we have reported that 340 individuals in total are affected. This will, in the fullness of time we assume, result in 200 positions being declared surplus according to workforce adjustment provisions under the Treasury Board. These employees will have 12 months severance with assistance to find a new job.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, there has been a great deal of exaggeration from some quarters as to the number of jobs that will eventually be declared surplus and those individuals who have an affected status.
I would like to go back and show my colleague how wrong the opposition was a year ago when we issued 776 affected letters. It portrayed this as 776 jobs lost, individuals on the street. In fact, no permanent employees last year lost their jobs. There are still 193 staff being replaced as attrition takes our numbers down. However, again, where it was exaggerating and fear-mongering about—
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Madam Chair, I am beginning to understand where my colleague may have gone off track.
The main estimates do not include all of the funding initiatives that are continued through a fiscal or calendar year. The central core obligations and services of Environment Canada will be maintained. We are, as are all other departments and agencies, doing our part to contribute to addressing a deficit reduction.
However, the central services and obligations of Environment Canada will continue to be met and funded.