2019 to 2020 Supplementary Estimates (A): Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—March 12, 2020
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Supplementary Estimates (A) overview
In this section
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPS) is seeking $196.7 million in these Supplementary Estimates (A) increasing its available approved funding from $4.4 billion to $4.6 billion net of revenues.
New funding: $157.7 million
Federal laboratories
$97.1 million ($94.9 million + $2.2 million Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) for renewing federal laboratories: to provide federal scientists with facilities and tools that enable collaboration and support the important work they carry out for Canadians.
Purpose of funding
- Currently, half of federal labs are more than 40 years old and with advances in science and technology, federal science facilities need to be upgraded so Canada can produce the evidence needed to keep the air clean, food safe and water fresh
- PSPC is working with federal science departments and agencies to implement an ambitious 25-year plan that will revitalize the Canadian science sector and bring together science-based departments and agencies to share facilities, develop synergies between programs, facilitate collaborative research and support scientific excellence
- Budget 2018 provided $2.8 billion to launch the first phase of an initiative for building world-class, collaborative, accessible, and sustainable science facilities
- of this amount, PSPC is requesting $97.1 million to begin implementing phase one of the strategy
- The funding will also address key deliverables, such as the launch of a horizontal approach to streamline the procurement of science equipment; the mitigation of administrative and policy barriers that impede collaboration; and improvements to digital infrastructure capabilities
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
$35.3 million for Les Terrasses de la Chaudière (LTDLC) complex: to support the project in the design stage and preparation for delivery of the replacement envelope of the LTDLC complex.
Purpose of funding
- PSPC is committed to systematically renewing LTDLC over the long term. The department is requesting $35.3 million which will enable it to replace the current brick clad panels with a new building envelope to address the health and safety concerns associated with the failing building envelope brick cladding
- More specifically, the funds provided in 2019 to 2020 are being used to support the project in the design stage and to cover costs related to the design and preparation for delivery of the replacement envelope of the LTDLC complex
- this includes costs related to project management, the provision of architectural and engineering consultant services to design the new replacement envelope and to prepare for acquiring construction services
- The new envelope will also improve the complex’s overall energy performance by 245above current standards
- This work will be carried out on the 3 towers that comprise the LTDLC Complex (1 Promenade du Portage, 10 Wellington, and 15 and 25 Eddy)
West Memorial Building
$22.1 million for the rehabilitation of the West Memorial Building (implementation phase): to provide interim accommodation during renovation of the Supreme Court of Canada Building.
Purpose of funding
- The government takes the integrity and safety of its heritage buildings seriously and has committed to investing over $1 billion in the Supreme Court of Canada and the West Memorial Buildings’ rehabilitation
- In order to provide interim accommodation for the Supreme Court during the renovation of the Supreme Court of Canada Building, funding will be required to acquire third party consulting, and construction management fees as well as internal costs, including project management fees
- The work will bring the West Memorial Building up to current code standards, make it more sustainable and accessible, and conserve its heritage character
- The investment in this rehabilitation project will create jobs for the middle class by creating employment opportunities for Canadians in construction, manufacturing, and professional services
Zero plastics
$1.4 million for the zero plastic waste initiative (horizontal initiative is led by Environment and Climate Change Canada): PSPC will play a leadership role in the reduction of single use plastics and promote the use of sustainable plastics/alternatives in both federal procurement and in federal operations.
Purpose of funding
- The government is committed to protecting the environment and is taking a leadership role by greening its operations. In 2017, approximately 200 nations signed a United Nations Environment Assembly resolution underlining the importance of eliminating plastic waste in the oceans. Building on this, and on the Government's 2016 Oceans Protection Plan, in June 2018 Canada announced a $100 million investment to support developing countries in implementing sound waste management systems and better managing plastic resources
- PSPC is requesting $1.4 million in funding to support the implementation of a Canada-wide Strategy on zero plastic waste (a horizontal initiative led by Environment and Climate Change Canada)
- In Canada, only 9% of our plastic waste is recycled. About 86% ends up in landfills and 1% enters the environment as litter. As such, as part of its platform the government committed to ban harmful single use plastics by 2021 and ensure that plastic producers are responsible for the recycling of their products
- PSPC has a supporting role in addressing key deliverables, such as fit-up pilot projects with modern workplaces that support our commitment; an action plan that would revise waste audit methodology, complete waste audits and reduction work plans for the majority of PSPC owned buildings; a sustainability occupant awareness program to increase tenant awareness and to develop tools that will promote achievement of the plastic commitments in various PSPC owned buildings across the country
- The funding is required to hire people to move forward on these key deliverables
Nunavut settlement area
$1.3 million ($1.1 million + $0.2 million EBP) for the new Directive on Government Contracts in the Nunavut Settlement Area (horizontal initiative is led by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)): PSPC will develop and deliver new procurement and leasing guides, tools and clauses, supported by training/outreach with a goal of increasing the participation of Inuit firms in the bidding process for government contracts and business opportunities in the Nunavut Settlement Area.
Purpose of funding
- The government is committed to creating more opportunities for Indigenous-led businesses to succeed and is moving forward with the new platform commitment to have at least 5% of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples
- PSPC’s request of 1.3 million is to support the implementation of the new Directive on Government Contracts, including real property leases, in the Nunavut Settlement Area, which addresses the Government of Canada’s obligation to adopt specific procurement policies under article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (horizontal initiative led by TBS)
- The requested resources would cover salary and associated operating and accommodation costs for PSPC’s role as procurement experts and common service provider
- PSPC will lead the development and delivery of new procurement and leasing guides, tools and clauses as well as government-wide training and outreach sessions. PSPC will also support Indigenous Service Canada in the outreach to Inuit businesses to raise awareness of the new directive
Human trafficking
$0.5 million ($0.4 million + $0.1 million EBP) for combating human trafficking (this horizontal initiative led by Public Safety Canada): Through the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, PSPC will enhance federal procurement supply chains with the goal of ensuring that they are free from human trafficking and labour exploitation.
Purpose of funding
- In September 2019, the Government of Canada launched a comprehensive National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking that brings together federal efforts under one strategic framework. This is a horizontal initiative led by Public Safety
- The national strategy is anticipated to help advance gender equality and diversity objectives, and would benefit marginalized and vulnerable populations at risk of being trafficked
- the strategy will also increase awareness and build capacity in strategic areas to prevent human trafficking in Canada and abroad
- PSPC is requesting $0.5 million to support the department’s role in developing procurement tools and practices and ensure that federal procurement supply chains are free from human trafficking and labour exploitation
- PSPC will implement a phased approach to modernizing federal procurement practices around supply chains by conducting the following activities
- incorporating expected behaviours for suppliers regarding human and labour rights into the federal Code of Conduct for Procurement
- developing tools in collaboration with federal suppliers and civil society to assist suppliers with the development of strategies and approaches to address vulnerabilities in their supply chains
- conducting outreach to nongovernmental organizations, industry and international partners to examine comprehensive long-term approaches to identify, prevent and reduce the risk of human trafficking in federal supply chains
Other adjustments: $39.0 million
Government pay system
$39.0 million for ensuring proper payments for public servants: funding reprofiled from prior years to continue supporting the Government of Canada’s pay system.
Purpose of funding
- Stabilizing the pay system and ending the undue stress and hardship faced by affected public servants and their families remains our top priority
- The government is “entirely committed to eliminating the backlog of outstanding pay issues for public servants as a result of the Phoenix pay system
- Funding will help achieve a steady state on pay administration by ensuring continuity in the services, capacity, system improvements and innovation
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