OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met in a televised session at 9:02 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Diane Marleau, presiding.

Hon. John Baird and the other witnesses answered questions.

Louise Thibault moved, — That the Committee report to the House the following motion:

That the government should make a commitment, starting now, to divide federal Public Service, government agency and Crown corporation jobs between Ottawa and Gatineau, respecting without exception the proportion of 75/25 that was agreed upon by the federal Cabinet in 1984, and making a strict rule of signing competitive leases; and

That starting in 2007 the government report annually to the House on progress achieved in correcting the persisting inequity on the one hand and establishing an integrated plan of concrete actions for meeting and maintaining the 1984 objective on the other.

Debate arose thereon.

Chris Warkentin moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “corporation jobs” with the words “real estate”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Chris Warkentin and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Marcel Proulx moved, — That the motion be amended by adding in the first paragraph after the word “commitment” the following:

“in the National Capital Region, starting now, to divide federal Public Service, government agency and Crown corporation jobs between Ottawa and Gatineau, primarily departments, departmental corporations or other bodies referred to in the Bank of Canada Act, the Broadcasting Act, the Canada Council for the Arts Act, the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development Act, the International Development Research Centre Act, the National Defence Act, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Telefilm Canada Act, or in any schedule to the Financial Administration Act, to meet a standard whereby at least 25 per cent of positions are located on the Quebec side of the National Capital Region, as agreed to in 1984 by the federal cabinet, primarily by purchasing or leasing real estate through a competitive public call for tender process”

and in the second paragraph after the words “progress achieved“ the following:

“by preparing an annual statistical summary of all public sector positions in the National Capital Region, including their locations and any movement of those positions in the previous fiscal year, which shall be laid before the House of Commons and made available to the public through a posting on the Government of Canada website, within four months after the end of each fiscal year, and by taking the necessary steps to ensure as soon as practicable as positions are filled in the public service, and in any case not later than December 31, 2010, that the 25/75 standard is implemented and respected“.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That debate on the motion continue at its next meeting.

At 11:02 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.