Government Operations committee  Certainly, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the invitation to appear before your committee. My name is Louise Baird. I'm the assistant secretary of communications and ministerial affairs at the Treasury Board Secretariat. Today I'd like to take you through the key elements of the G

Government Operations committee  I can start and my colleagues might want to add something. In the policy, we did emphasize that digital should be the initial approach for government departments to communicate with Canadians. Obviously, that's what's happening in the world. People are using digital more often,

Government Operations committee  The policy applies to all Government of Canada communications, which of course includes the websites. A big part of our communication is driving people to the web to get their information. I think we do need to make a distinction, though, between all other kinds of communication

Government Operations committee  Yes, there have been two campaigns that were voluntarily submitted for review through ASC that fell below the $500,000 threshold.

Government Operations committee  They are speaking in an official capacity per their specific role. If we use a scientist, as an example, if they're focused on a specific area of research they can speak on behalf of the government.

Government Operations committee  I guess I'll make the distinction of a general official spokesperson for a department as someone—

Government Operations committee  It is officially on the department's behalf, but within their narrow field of expertise. It's not being a spokesperson for the whole department, but to be able to speak very knowledgeably about their specific area, obviously.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  As their title, as that Government of Canada official—

Government Operations committee  Yes, as part of the department.

Government Operations committee  The deputy head approves the annual POR plan. The head of communications within each department works with the programs and the policy people across the department. The POR is meant to inform policy development and the establishment of programs. There is usually an annual call-ou

Government Operations committee  They're based on campaigns, so anything that falls within one campaign can't be split. I would use Canada 150 as a good example. There are many ads in different places through different time periods, but it's considered one campaign, so it's dealt with as a whole. There are rules

Government Operations committee  Yes, absolutely it is.

Government Operations committee  If I recall correctly—I might defer to my PCO colleagues—there were some questions about a video. I think it's important to make the distinction, as I think we were trying to do a little earlier, between what's advertising and what's not advertising. That specific criteria in ter

Government Operations committee  Yes, I guess it's.... I mean, in the terminology for us, advertising means a very specific thing in terms of purchasing space in a media outlet. Traditionally, you think of placement in The Globe and Mail or Le Droit, and you talk about billboards outside, radio, and TV, and now,