Other: Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—November 24, 2022

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Implementation and support of the Laboratories Canada initiative

Key messages

Key data points

Background

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is responsible for Laboratories Canada, a transformative strategy that will create a world-class, national network of federal laboratories. This strategy is driven by a Long Term Vision and Plan, grounded in guiding principles of:

Budget 2018 launched the first phase of the Laboratories Canada Strategy by providing $2.8 billion to build world-class, collaborative, and accessible science facilities. Phase 1 lays the foundation for future success, addresses scientific facilities that are in the worst condition, and supports science in priority areas such as:

PSPC is leading integrated efforts with federal science departments and agencies, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as service providers, to deliver the Laboratories Canada Strategy. In fiscal year 2022 to 2023, funding is being transferred to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre Hub Management Office which:

The Hub Management Office ensures that a science vision exists and that integrated science and space requirements foster interdepartmental and external collaboration while Public Services and Procurement Canada leads the project management and delivery.

Multiple science hubs, projects, and components of phase 1 of the Laboratories Canada Strategy have been announced publicly. Then-Minister Anita Anand announced the Laboratories Strategy on April 15, 2021, outlining the Laboratories Canada Long Term Vision and Plan for federal science, investments in science infrastructure to support Canadian scientists, and the phase 1 TerraCanada Hub, including the investments in its Mississauga and Hamilton projects. These events represent major milestones that will enable Laboratories Canada to continue advancing phase 1 projects, and engagement with key stakeholders such as municipalities, community organizations, Indigenous groups, and universities.

Tangible progress and early successes are already underway across the country. The TerraCanada Hamilton laboratory was completed in May 2022: it offers leading-edge facilities for federal scientists and academic partners who use smart robotics and artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of new metal materials for the clean energy and transportation sectors. The TerraCanada Mississauga laboratory, under active construction, will be a partner facility to the Hamilton lab, focusing on next-generation clean materials, such as photovoltaics and renewable fuels. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Centre for Plant Health in Sidney, British Columbia moved from planning into construction in September 2022, with a ground-breaking and land blessing ceremony carried out by Indigenous partners. And the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick, awarded major contracts for design and construction, which include significant benefits for local Indigenous communities.

Outsourcing of contracts

Context

There has been recent media attention on federal government spending on outsourcing contracts, noting a 40% increase between fiscal year 2015 to 2016 and 2020 to 2021. This information was sourced from the Public Accounts of Canada, tabled in the House of Commons on December 14, 2021. The Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates is currently carrying out a study on outsourcing of contracts.

Suggested response

If pressed on reasons for outsourcing and contracting or growing demand for information technology and professional services:

Background

In January 2022, media reported that the federal government spending on outsourcing contracts in the fiscal year 2020 to 2021 increased by 40% when compared to fiscal year 2015 to 2016. This came from information publicly available in the Public Accounts of Canada, tabled in the House of Commons on December 14, 2021.

Over the course of the 44th Parliament, 1st session, the topic of outsourcing and contracting work outside departments has been considered by members of various House of Commons standing committees. In fall 2022, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates launched a study on outsourcing of contracts.

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