Government Operations committee  Tim, could you please answer?

Government Operations committee  I think that is a challenge for us. It's a challenge for other departments in the Government of Canada. I think it's also a challenge for businesses operating in the private sector. In our business we hit the shortages that others are hitting. For example, information management, information technology--that's an area of scarcity right now.

Government Operations committee  I would say none of that is expected to come from the sales of real estate. This is generated from internal to government management initiatives that economize on our management processes. I think those are described in the sections above that.

Government Operations committee  Yes, they are.

Government Operations committee  To date, yes, we are on track relative to 2005-06, as well as last year and the coming year.

Government Operations committee  If you don't mind, Madam Chair, I'd like to call the head of our information technology services branch to the table. I'd like to introduce to you Steven Poole, who is the head of our ITSB, as we call it.

Government Operations committee  Thank you. That is a very good question. In terms of strategic procurement, I think one of the business strategies, if you could call it that, of our department is to move from people taking orders from other departments—simply filling orders and making contracts on an individual basis—to becoming more involved in organizing our avenues of supply.

Government Operations committee  On page 19 of our document we have indicators of performance that set out how we would measure our progress towards our goals. I think it's fair to say that you don't see specifics there. We say we'll measure it by the percentage of reduction in cost of goods and services, by reduction in time, yet we don't say we're going to reduce it by such and such percent this year.

Government Operations committee  We have a very sound information base, and we can provide you with detailed information. But I would say in general that Professor McKellar is right. I think in the public sector--and this isn't just in the federal government; it applies to other governments as well--it is difficult to compete with other public objectives for funding to repair bricks and mortar.

Government Operations committee  In terms of the kinds of lease agreements we would enter into with those who buy the buildings, we would indeed want to put into those contracts assurance that the buildings would be maintained. That is part of the benefit of entering into these arrangements. It is so that they do indeed meet a consistent standard throughout our leasehold.

Government Operations committee  We've actually followed quite a vigorous program of strengthening accountability in our department, which I think has been greatly augmented by our chief risk officer--I mentioned in my introductory remarks that we have set up this position--who's worked on reinforcing the integrity of our programs.

Government Operations committee  He plays a very useful role in advising the deputy minister and me on particular issues that might come to our attention. Whether they're related to personnel or to particular files, he'll investigate and advise us as to whether they've been managed appropriately. In addition to the ethics program, he's got ethics officers in each branch in each region, who shore up the whole organization.

Government Operations committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and good afternoon, committee. Thank you very much for this opportunity to talk about Public Works and Government Services Canada and its report on plans and priorities. I have with me at the table today Mike Hawkes, our chief financial officer, and Johanne Bélisle, our assistant deputy minister of corporate services, policy and communications, who are really the authors of our report on plans and priorities.

Public Accounts committee  They're not allowed to record anything about the report or its contents on their BlackBerrys.

Public Accounts committee  I'd have to check the protocol for all of the specifics, but I don't believe we've addressed BlackBerrys in particular. I think it's probably covered off with the rule against using any kind of e-mail, BlackBerrys being understood to be included, to communicate any information in the report.