//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71986MarkStrahlMark-StrahlChilliwack—HopeConservative CaucusBritish Columbia//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/StrahlMark_CPC.jpgInterventionMr. Mark Strahl (Chief Opposition Whip): (1115)[English]Thank you, Mr. Chair.I do appreciate how rushed the December meeting was for reasons that the Conservatives certainly remember. I did ask a question that I wanted to get some clarification on, just because when I went back I couldn't make the numbers work. Again, I know we were very rushed.I did ask a question about the reduction in the allotment in the estimates for the Office of the Deputy Clerk. There's a reduction of nearly $200,000 for the personal office of the Deputy Clerk-Procedure, André Gagnon. At the time, I was told that this was because of a reallocation of the Press Gallery Secretariat to the Office of the Deputy Clerk-Administration. However, looking at that, it happened in the previous year.I would that either to be clarified now or for it to be flagged so that someone can give me information on what that difference is, because I believe we were talking about different years when the Press Gallery Secretariat was explained as the reason for that. I'll just flag that. I don't expect that the clerk was expecting that question today, so if I can just put it on the record that I would like to get some more information on that, I'd appreciate it.Main estimates 2020-20216087909608791060879116087912AnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/25452AnthonyRotaHon.Anthony-RotaNipissing—TimiskamingLiberal CaucusOntario//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/RotaAnthony_Lib.jpgInterventionHon. Anthony Rota: (1120)[English]Yes.Can we answer it now?Main estimates 2020-20216087914MarkStrahlChilliwack—HopeCharlesRobertCharlesRobertCharles-RobertInterventionMr. Charles Robert (Clerk of the House of Commons): (1120)[English]No, we'll look into it. I want to make sure that we provide you with correct information, so rather than doing something off the cuff, I will come back to you.Main estimates 2020-20216087915AnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingMarkStrahlChilliwack—Hope//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/25452AnthonyRotaHon.Anthony-RotaNipissing—TimiskamingLiberal CaucusOntario//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/RotaAnthony_Lib.jpgInterventionHon. Anthony Rota: (1250)[English]Thank you.Are there any other questions? Are we all in agreement?Some hon. members: Agreed.Hon. Anthony Rota: On number five, proposed 2020-21 main estimates, we have, as the presenters, Daniel Paquette, chief financial officer; and Elaine Valiquette, senior director in financial planning, resource management and corporate policies. Monsieur Paquette.Legal servicesMain estimates 2020-2021Staffing6025813DanielPaquetteDanielPaquetteDanielPaquetteDaniel-PaquetteInterventionMr. Daniel Paquette: (1250)[Translation]Thank you, Mr. Chair.[English] I am here today to present the proposed 2020-21 main estimates and seek the approval of the board. These estimates summarize all the associated items previously approved by the board, including the two submissions that we just heard today.What we are asking for is the acceptance of the proposed amount of $516.4 million for main estimates for the House, which represents a 2.6% increase compared to the main estimates in previous years.[Translation]The House's main estimates include both voted and statutory expenditures. The voted portion is estimated to be $360 million, and the statutory, $156.3 million. Overall, the items previously approved are increases to the legislative aspect of operating budgets for members of Parliament and House officers, as well as allowances.[English]One item that is new for this year is the adjustment included for $1.7 million for House officers. This is the amount, given the revised party representation in the House, for the additional recognized party after the last general election.Some of the key initiatives that we've highlighted before are the support of $2.5 million for the HR advisory service for members, which was approved by the board last February, and two of the assemblies that were also approved during the year that are going to happen in the fiscal year, for $1.3 million.[Translation]In closing, it is recommended that the Board approve the proposed 2020-21 Main Estimates for the House of Commons in the amount of $516.4 million. This funding is allocated between two programs, $310.6 million for the members and House officers program and $205.8 million for the House administration program.[English]We are ready for questions.Main estimates 2020-202160258156025816602581760258186025819602582060258216025822AnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71986MarkStrahlMark-StrahlChilliwack—HopeConservative CaucusBritish Columbia//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/StrahlMark_CPC.jpgInterventionMr. Mark Strahl: (1250)[English]I have two questions. One is regarding the Office of the Clerk. It does appear, just looking at the numbers themselves from 2019-20 to 2020-21, that there is a significant reduction in the internal audit funding. Maybe you could just address this and assure us that the internal auditing is not being cut and that maybe there is a reorganization there. Then, I would also ask about a similar reduction in the office of the deputy clerk, year over year. It looks like a 20% reduction in the office of the deputy clerk, procedure. Could you explain that reduction as well? What is the reason for that?Main estimates 2020-202160258266025827AnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingDanielPaquetteDaniel-PaquetteInterventionMr. Daniel Paquette: (1255)[English]Yes, there were reorganizations in the organization to make sure that the various work is properly aligned. When it comes to the internal audit, we used to have the planning function that was under the chief internal audit. That has now been transferred under our deputy clerk for the administration, so there has been no reduction in the actual capacity from that perspective. For the procedural, it's the press gallery that was transferred, also under the deputy clerk, administration, so there has been—Main estimates 2020-20216025829AnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingMarkStrahlChilliwack—Hope//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71986MarkStrahlMark-StrahlChilliwack—HopeConservative CaucusBritish Columbia//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/StrahlMark_CPC.jpgInterventionMr. Mark Strahl: (1255)[English]That's all the power.Voices: Oh, oh!Mr. Daniel Paquette: That's right.Main estimates 2020-2021602583060258316025832DanielPaquetteMichelPatriceMichelPatriceMichel-PatriceInterventionMr. Michel Patrice (Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons): (1255)[English] It's the secretariat, the press gallery secretariat.Mr. Daniel Paquette: Yes, sorry. 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