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.)
If you find a question period note of interest, you may make an access to information request in order to obtain it.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is working to modernize and simplify procurement.
Cybersecurity is a key dimension of the services provided to Canadians. Cyber security incidents, in addition to affecting the continuous delivery of quality services, have an impact on trust in institutions. Shared Services Canada’s (SSC) role in addressing cyber security issues for the Government of Canada (GC), including Small Departments and Agencies (SDAs)
On April 1, 2023, Global News published an article about phone lines paid for by the Government of Canada, noting nearly one third of the fixed lines are dormant
The Government of Canada needs to acquire 124 parcels of property from 44 owners for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass. These parcels are located in Frontenac, Nantes, and the municipality of Lac-Mégantic.
On June 14, 2023, the expropriation to acquire the parcels of land needed for the project was approved.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is collaborating and communicating regularly with Transport Canada in order to move quickly on this file while ensuring a fair acquisition process for property owners.
On June 10, 2023, the Government of Canada had ordered the seizure of a Russian-registered cargo aircraft currently grounded at Toronto Pearson Airport, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act.
The Government of Canada has a standing offer for commercially available and pre-existing satellite imagery with a company called China Head Aerospace Technology Co., which has been added to the U.S. Department of Commerce Entity List.
The presence and/or access to IT products manufactured by Chinese-owned entities within the Canadian market have raised concerns due to claims that some, such as Lenovo and Huawei, have direct ties to the Chinese government.
On June 6 2023, an article published in La Presse entitled “Faut-il avoir peur des appareils Lenovo ?”, states that the Government of Canada has not banned equipment from Lenovo. The Center for Security Establishment (CSE) is quoted in the article and mentions that they evaluate equipment on a case by case basis. Fyscillia Ream, a researcher from l’Université de Montréal, states that the tendency is to move towards banning Lenovo products.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), as a common service provider to departments and agencies for procurement and real property services, supports the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at border crossings. This is done by putting in place various agreements to help accommodate asylum seekers arriving between ports of entry without alternative plans, while they await transfer to the provincial shelter system or secure private accommodations. In many cases, urgent contracts have been required to deal with increasing and often unpredictable volumes of asylum claimants, including contracts for short-term accommodation and support services, such as transportation, food and security.
Note: Questions related to the Safe Third Country Agreement should be directed to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Public Services and Procurement is the federal government’s administrator of real property and is responsible for approximately 6.9 million square metres (m²) of space across Canada. This includes the office portfolio, special purpose buildings, and assets for the Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch. About 6.2 million square metres (m²) is considered office space.
Explaining Shared Services Canada’s (SSC) role in addressing cyber security, which is a shared responsibility with other agencies, such as the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) – Office of the Chief Information Officer (TBS-OCIO) and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), which holds the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS).