Agriculture committee  I am elected to represent the interests of 55,000 members, a good chunk of whom are scientists.

Agriculture committee  Yes.

Agriculture committee  In May.

Agriculture committee  All these points appear in the document in question, which also contains a spreadsheet showing how many millions of dollars would be saved if such and such a thing were done. That's the proposal that was sent to Cabinet for approval, together with the bottom line, the savings that would be realized.

Agriculture committee  As I said, I think you should have the document in front of you, but there were references to seed certification; there were references to diminishing the direct meat inspection and conveying that responsibility to industry; there were a number of initiatives with respect to ceasing the financial incentives to cattle farmers for the sampling of cattle in the BSE program; and there were a number of other issues.

Agriculture committee  In my layperson's read on this, I would answer yes. I am not a scientist. I understand that people who work in industry are not necessarily scientists and they are not there to monitor the safety of the food but to make a profit. I do not want to diminish the role of industry, but I think the mandate of the CFIA cannot be diluted and we cannot move towards this type of deregulation without some kind of impact on the safety.

Agriculture committee  As I said in my opening comments, I did see the document; I read the document, and I gave the document back to the CFIA when I realized it was a secret document. But I did read it, and I am very concerned about its contents. I understand that the CFIA officials who were here yesterday could not speak to it because they would be turfed in the same way as Luc Pomerleau was turfed if they spoke to it.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of this committee. On behalf of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, I am very pleased to be called upon to appear before you this morning, despite the short notice I received for that purpose. I listened to the audio recording of yesterday's meeting.

Government Operations committee  No, it's not unfair at all. Actually, I fully understand where you're coming from, and I fully understand what you're trying to get from me. I would love to have come to this committee with factual information, with a good understanding of what this process is about, where the government is going with it, and what the impact will be on Canadians in the long term.

Government Operations committee  Madam Chair, may I ask this gentleman just one short question before I leave? If what you say is correct, and I have no reason to doubt it, can you explain to me why this committee asked for a moratorium late last fall because they didn't have enough information on the sale of the buildings?

Government Operations committee  Those who do project management are part of our staff.

Government Operations committee  These are federal public service employees affiliated with our union. As a general rule, consulting firms handle the operations. If there is any turnover, that may be where it occurs. I don't think there is a disproportionate turnover rate among professionals at Public Works and Government Services.

Government Operations committee  For decades now, professionals have been asked to do more with less. Resources have been cut and certain programs have been cancelled, which has had the cumulative effect of significantly increasing the burden. No one has told us that was one of the reasons or factors leading to the sale of federal buildings.

Government Operations committee  I'm going to let Mr. Burns answer.

Government Operations committee  It was, and it was for a short-term gain. It seems to be the same situation here.