Question Period Note: Tabling of the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report for Public Services and Procurement Canada

On December 7, 2020, the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report (DRR) for Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) was tabled in the House of Commons by the President of the Treasury Board. The report documents PSPC’s key program accomplishments and challenges for 2019 to 2020 in relation to the Minister’s mandate commitments and/or government-wide priorities.

• PSPC continues to efficiently deliver high-quality services and programs to support the daily operations of government and provide value and sound stewardship on behalf of all Canadians
  • Among many accomplishments, in 2019 to 2020, we leveraged federal procurement to support Indigenous businesses by providing them with increased opportunities to access the federal government market
  • The department advanced its efforts to ensure that public servants are paid accurately and on time. Significant progress has been made to reduce the backlog of pay transactions
  • PSPC’s work also actively supported the climate action and sustainability priority of the Government of Canada by reducing its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 58.1% for 2019 to 2020 through energy efficiency initiatives in its real property portfolio

If pressed on COVID-19 response:

• PSPC responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic through significant and sustained efforts to provide critical and essential services in support of the Government of Canada and Canadians, such as the procurement of supplies and equipment to protect the health and safety of Canadians

If pressed on the Translation Bureau:

• The Translation Bureau strengthened its position as a centre of excellence in linguistic services and developed a COVID-19 glossary on short notice as a service to government operations and the general public during the pandemic

If pressed on the delivery of National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) ships:

• The NSS continued to help stimulate the Canadian economy, with approximately $3.3 billion in new contracts awarded to Canadian companies in 6 different provinces in 2019
• A $15.7 billion investment to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet was announced, which will include 16 multi-purpose vessels and 2 Arctic and offshore patrol ships
• A competitive process was also launched to select a third strategic partner shipyard under the NSS to build 6 new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Chantier Davie pre-qualified to move onto the request for proposal and evaluation stage of this process
• The first 2 Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, the CCGS Sir John Franklin and the CCGS Captain Jacques Cartier, were delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard. Sea trials began for the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the HCMS Harry DeWolf, and the second ship, the HCMS Margaret Brooke, was launched

If pressed on the Department’s expenditures:

• The 2019 to 2020 expenses were $558 million higher than planned (planned: $5,906.1 million; actual: $6,464.1 million). The increase is mainly attributable to the Property and Infrastructure and Payments and Accounting core responsibilities due to:
  • additional funding received for real property repairs and maintenance after the estimation of the planned results
  • additional funding received for ensuring proper payments for public servants after the estimation of the planned results

The 2019 to 2020 revenues were comparable with the planned revenues (planned: $3,090.5 million; actual: $3,087.9 million)

PSPC’s DRR is prepared annually and reports on whether the department has fulfilled the expectations outlined in the Departmental Plan. The Report is tabled every fall by the President of the Treasury Board. Parliamentary committees have an opportunity to review and question department spending and achieved results. The DRR for the 2019 to 2020 fiscal year is based on the Departmental Results Framework.

Priority 2019 to 2020 activities

In 2019 to 2020, PSPC made significant progress in the implementation of the priorities identified in the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Plan.

In addition, PSPC responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic through significant and sustained efforts to provide critical and essential services in support of the Government of Canada and Canadians, such as the procurement of supplies and equipment to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

No particular media attention is anticipated. Media lines will be prepared, as required, to address any related media questions.

Key financial information

The performance information contained within the 2019 to 2020 DRR is measured against the planned spending defined in PSPC’s 2019 to 2020 Departmental Plan.

The DRR shows an increase of $614 million between the 2019 to 2020 planned spending and the actual spending, from $3.215B to $3.829B. This is not unusual since planned spending is determined prior to the year and does not include changes in funding approved throughout 2019 to 2020.

• The net increase of $614 million between the 2019 to 2020 actual spending and the 2019 to 2020 planned spending is mainly due to:
  • The exclusion of the new 2019 Budget Implementation Vote (BIV) in the 2019 to 2020 Main Estimates and planned spending amounts due to the timing of the tabling of the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Plan. When taking into account the new BIV funding in the amount of $1.02 billion received in fiscal year 2019 to 2020, the revised planned spending versus actual spending will result in a surplus of $407 million instead of a deficit of $614 million. The $407 million surplus is due to:
    • Delays experienced in tendering new construction contracts as well as increased revenues from accommodations, such as office space
    • The realignment of funding to revised project schedules for the rehabilitation of major public infrastructure such as the Parliamentary Precinct
    • Lower payment issuance costs, related to the use of electronic payments instead of cheques
    • Changes in the scheduling of activities related to the Electronic Procurement Solution project

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