Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, members of the committee. Thank you for inviting us to speak today. I'm accompanied by Karen Cahill, executive director, finance, planning and administration directorate, and deputy chief financial officer at the Privy Council Office. It is a pleasure to be here today, and I look forward to answering your questions with regard to the PCO 2016-17 supplementary estimates (A).

Government Operations committee  Indeed, that is an important area of focus and part of the focus of the government, as I said in response to a previous member's question, on outcomes for Canadians and really focusing on the implementation of initiatives. Critical to knowing whether you are actually on the path towards achieving the results or outcomes you've committed to for Canadians is having the data to tell you whether you are on track, whether in a case pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions, the number of refugees, or the number of innovative companies in the economy.

Government Operations committee  Fundamentally, the relationship is similar to what you would find between ministers and their office staff on the political side and the professional non-partisan public service on the departmental side. The Privy Council Office employees are part of the Public Service of Canada.

Government Operations committee  The work to support the Prime Minister and the official Government of Canada website and digital presence is done on the basis of non-partisan support. We assess content to ensure that it meets that criterion. The government has underlined this commitment in Open and Accountable Government, which details the use of social media by ministers and the importance of using it in a non-partisan way that respects the policies of the Government of Canada.

Government Operations committee  The money proposed in supplementary estimates for the support through the Privy Council Office for the independent advisory board is to support the function of the board itself, which has three federal members and then two for each province, in terms of their meetings and deliberations.

Government Operations committee  I think it's two people.

Government Operations committee  We will verify that and provide the information to the committee to validate the specific number.

Government Operations committee  The government has made the commitment. Ministers Bennett, Wilson-Raybould, and Hajdu have engaged indigenous Canadians, the families of victims, and others in the parameters and approach toward a potential inquiry. The government will deliberate and determine an approach and announce it in the weeks ahead.

Government Operations committee  In budget 2016, the government did propose an investment of $40 million in the inquiry. However, as the decision on the specific approach has not yet been taken, the parameters of the nature of that inquiry and the responsible organizations have yet to be determined.

Government Operations committee  Indeed, that would be the course, in the estimates pertaining to the relevant ministers and organizations supporting the process.

Government Operations committee  I believe in supplementary estimates (C) there was an investment of—

Government Operations committee  I think in the first instance that the public mandate letters, as part of the commitment to openness and transparency, define the objectives of the government in a summative form as articulated in the Speech from the Throne. A number of aspects associated with them will require decisions by cabinet to enable a policy decision.

Government Operations committee  It's about focusing on outcomes as opposed to activities—which is often how we describe what we do in those outcomes—in a way that is meaningful to Canadians in what it means to the economy, diversity in society, or the well-being of Canadians. Consequently, by focusing the development of policies and programs with the end point in mind, and then having a means to measure progress toward it and the discipline in the system, we're sharpening the focus to ensure that we're checking on implementation.

Government Operations committee  This is—

Government Operations committee  This is an area being led by the President of the Treasury Board, Minister Brison. I think the commitment is twofold. One, as you noted, is to increase transparency, not just in the report on plans and priorities, but as well in the information—