Translation of "Frais de fonctionnement et de maintenance " (French → English) :

variable operating costs, including maintenance costs, such as consumption of raw materials, energy, other process consumables, and any maintenance and repair needed to extend the lifetime of the operation.

Under this measure, the only costs to be taken into account in determining the operating grant are those necessary for the proper conduct of the normal activities of the body selected, in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges, etc.), costs of internal meetings, and publications, information and dissemination costs.

5.4. Under Part 2, the only costs to be taken into account in determining the operating grant shall be those necessary for the proper conduct of the normal activities of the body selected, in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges, etc.), costs of internal meetings, publication, information and dissemination costs and costs directly linked to the body's activities.

A Co-ordination Centre is an undertaking belonging to a multinational group providing services to other members of the group. Under a 10-year license granted by the tax authorities, the taxable revenues of a Co-ordination Centre are determined according to the so-called "cost-plus" method. The cost plus method is normally aimed at avoiding double taxation and limiting tax avoidance. In the cost plus method, the taxable profit is calculated as a percentage of the aggregated operating costs. Although this method of taxation does not constitute State aid per se, its practical application may well give rise to State aid. With respect to the Belgian scheme, the Commission has concluded that the Belgian authorities apply the cost-plus method in a way t ...[+++]hat gives raise to State aid. Firstly, Belgium systematically uses a default mark-up rate of 8% without verifying whether this rate reflects the economic reality of the services provided by the Co-ordination Centres. Secondly, the way in which the expenditure of the Centre is calculated excludes significant operating cost items of the Centre. Thirdly, the Belgian Co-ordination Centres enjoyed additional tax advantages such as a withholding exemption on income distributions and a real-estate property tax exemption. The benefits reduce the amount of taxable profits and thus grants an advantage not justified under the EU State aid rules.

Finally, about 28 per cent of the spending, or $778 million, comprise the operating expenditures of the department, including salaries, benefits and other operating and maintenance costs.

Two years ago I outlined for this committee the RCMP's plans to streamline our administrative activities in order to reduce operating costs, and at the same time, maintain and enhance our traditional high standards of policing and excellence in service to the Canadian public.