Question Period Notes
About this information
In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
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Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is the federal government’s administrator of real property and is responsible for approximately 6 million square metres (m²) of rentable office space across Canada. Studies undertaken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic showed that existing office space was underutilized by 40%, and considered inefficient with annual operating and maintenance costs of approximately $2.4B.
Human remains were discovered during project excavations at St. Andrews Lock and Dam in Lockport, Manitoba.
On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. The announcement also noted that “contracted personnel who require access to federal government worksites will also need to be vaccinated”.
Notes:
- All questions related to the government-wide policy of mandatory vaccinations should be directed to the President of the Treasury Board
In support of local communities in the National Capital Region, and in alignment with federal legislation, the National Capital Commission’s (NCC) pays its fair share of Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to various municipalities where it owns real property on behalf of the Crown.
The Province of Ontario has implemented a legislative amendment for 2021 regarding Business Education Tax (BET) rates that creates an inequity in treatment between taxable business properties and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) properties.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is actively working to increase the participation of Indigenous businesses in federal procurement.
In the fast-paced and constantly evolving marketplace to secure necessary products and supplies to support the Government of Canada’s response to the pandemic, questions may arise as to the measures that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has in place to protect the integrity of the federal procurement system during this period.
In Fall 2020 there was media attention over the security role of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) on Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC) procurement of security screening equipment for use in non-operational areas in Canadian missions abroad. PSPC issued two National Master Standing Offers (NMSOs) for x-ray machines and walk-through metal detectors that did not include a security requirement. A NMSO for x-ray machines was initially issued to Nuctech Company Limited of Beijing, China.
On August 9, 2018, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), awarded a contract to Atlantic Towing Limited for the chartering services of two emergency towing vessels as part of the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP).
The Government of Canada is committed to the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fleet and is making a significant investment in new vessels that will bring a modern, flexible approach to program delivery. This investment includes the construction of 2 new Polar Icebreakers to ensure continued delivery of the CCG’s Arctic program.