Government Operations committee  I should clarify that, in terms of the lowering of the staffing level in the office during the election, I don't know the mechanism that was used for how they managed that, whether it was layoffs in particular. I just wanted to provide that clarification. I don't have the exact

Government Operations committee  I'm happy to see what I can provide for you.

Government Operations committee  We'll be happy to get back to you on that, sir.

Government Operations committee  I don't have that information with me today.

Government Operations committee  We're happy to follow up on it.

Government Operations committee  Thank you for your question. The budget efficiencies that the Prime Minister's Office was able to achieve were as a result of reduced staffing and operating costs during the spring 2011 election period. During election periods, there is a greatly reduced level of activity in min

Government Operations committee  Thank you for your question. In addition to the other areas that I have outlined, it's my understanding that in the Prime Minister's Office their vigilance with respect to costs would have included purchases big and small, although I don't know how big the purchases are there, i

Government Operations committee  I couldn't tell you that because I am not yet familiar enough with the operations. As far as the Office of the Prime Minister is concerned, I do not know the situation. I would only be able to give you my own views as somebody who would be able to do that in running an organi

Government Operations committee  I just wanted to thank you for that excellent question. You said in your question, rightly, that perhaps there might be others better placed to answer that. I'm thinking in particular of my colleagues at the Treasury Board Secretariat, who may be able to help you on this matter.

Government Operations committee  Well, I can certainly speak to where we're at in terms of our employees as of March 1, because I have those numbers with me today. Where we will be at the end of the month is yet to be determined.

Government Operations committee  The strategic and operating review has yet to be reported on by the government. I believe you are asking about strategic review, so I'm going to take this opportunity to turn to my colleague, Monsieur Bélisle, to speak about that.

Government Operations committee  Thank you for your question. We have been engaged in the strategic review exercise that my colleague Marc Bélisle spoke of, which will be implemented through this fiscal year and over the next two fiscal years. We are also, in the conduct of our day-to-day business, trying to ex

Government Operations committee  Just to give you an example of that, we share some commonalities with other central agencies. The delivery of library services is one of them. We're looking at how we can work together to deliver library services and research services to the staff of those organizations and see i

Government Operations committee  Thank you for your question. No, it was not part of the strategic review. It was an ongoing effort by the Prime Minister's Office to find economies within their offices. For instance, they were able to buy flight passes to spend less money on air fare. They were cautious with

Government Operations committee  Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon to you all. I am pleased to meet with the members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. I was recently appointed as the new assistant deputy minister for the corporate services branch for the Privy