Evidence of meeting #2 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was questions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
All right. Let me try this and see...I want to make sure we have the right—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, I think you're getting into the weeds here. Before we deal with the amendment, can we first deal with the motion itself?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
We've never seen a motion. It's news to us that there even is a motion. I have no copy of it.
So before we start getting into an amendment to a motion that we haven't even seen, let's deal with the motion.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
An hon. member
Yes.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
We're trying to accommodate the government request to give the okay by today. That's what's generating all this, so--
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
--I'm in the committee's hands, but the goal of the committee, coming out of the steering committee, was to try to meet the deadline.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
I think what Mr. Byrne is asking for is always within the committee's prerogative to request. We're the master of our own ship and we have the right to request documents, people, and persons at any time.
I understand what Mr. Byrne is asking for, and I think it's not necessary to make that amendment, because what he's asking for is inherent within the prerogative of the committee. It's redundant to put it into an amendment. We already have that right.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Do I have agreement that the motion is deemed to be moved? Do you agree to that? Or do you want to move it yourself?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Let's get the main motion, but I'd like....
Okay. We have last year's motion right here, so if it's the same as last year's motion--
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Okay. It was agreed:
That, in relation to the letter dated May 28, 2010, from the Comptroller General of Canada, the Committee concur in the request for the endorsement of waivers to the publication of details related to ex gratia payments, payments of claims against the Crown and court awards in the 2010 Public Accounts of Canada.
So what I would like to move is that this motion, save for the date--to be updated to today's date--and the date of the letter, be put forward for a vote at this time.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
That is exactly what's before us. The wording you've read out is exactly the same except for the dates. Okay, word for word--
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Let's put this before the committee, vote on it, and move on.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
So the motion is on the floor, and I have someone who has moved an amendment, the amendment I was trying to get the wording of to make sure we're reflecting this properly.
Mr. Byrne, tell me how close we're getting to what you wanted.
It was to add these words: “provided that the Committee retain its right to order the production of the information whose publication is to be withheld, in confidence by the committee”.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
That meets your needs? Very good.
Is there any further debate on the amendment?
Mr. Kramp.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
I'm speaking against the amendment, for the very simple reason that we already have that, as Mr. Saxton said. It's redundant right now.
If we're going to request every bit of information that the Comptroller General has right now.... These are thousands of requests that we're going to have to sift through, then, in deciding...“I wonder which one we want and I wonder which one we don't.”
Either we have a Comptroller General in place to do the job or we get a different Comptroller General. Now, if we are not happy with what the Comptroller General is giving us, then we go to the Comptroller General, but to go ahead and put a blanket out now...it's just preposterous. I would certainly vote against this.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Further debate?
First-time speakers on the amendment?
Mr. Caron, you wanted to speak?
