Government Operations committee  Two years ago, we usually had between $4 million and $5 million in public notices every year. Most of them were under $2,000. It's not a big amount but it makes for a lot of material that would have to be reviewed. Public Works, for example, puts out a notice that a bridge is goi

Government Operations committee  Departments contact us to tell us that they have obtained approval to run an ad campaign, that they have hired an advertising firm, that they have developed a creative concept for that ad, and they tell us whether the ad will run on television or the Internet. There is a form th

Government Operations committee  Yes. If a campaign that comes in doesn't meet the criteria, we will withhold the ADV number, which is the buying power. We will not authorize that department to go ahead. We will go back to Treasury Board. You cannot announce something and say it's subject to government approval.

Government Operations committee  Any advertising campaign of the Government of Canada today must respect the 14.

Government Operations committee  Well, in the last two years, because this was modified, if my memory serves me correctly, a year and a half or two years ago.

Government Operations committee  The last time the Auditor General visited advertising and POR was in February 2007. Here's the conclusion: 1.84 In our current audit, we found that PWGSC has made satisfactory progress in ensuring that it awards contracts for advertising and public opinion research services in

Government Operations committee  If we do POR, the private company must keep the information it is collecting.

Government Operations committee  When we do public opinion research, the private company must keep the information, store it on a computer in Canada, and that information is not released in any way unless we have an ATIP request and we would release everything except the name.

Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  A few years ago, too, the board made a modification to the policy. We have to respect the 14 criteria of the code of ASC at the start of it. That's basic. That's a mandatory rule, on top of which we just added the new review, non-partisan process. If a campaign doesn't meet the A

Government Operations committee  Are you referring to advertising that we purchase from foreign media?

Government Operations committee  We spend very little on advertising outside Canada. In Washington, for instance, it is minimal. Most advertising is published in Canada in media directed to Canadians. Very little is spent abroad.

Government Operations committee  We can forward that information to you, but it is very little.

Government Operations committee  Once again, let me remind you of the definition of advertising.