Evidence of meeting #4 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 reports.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
I call to order this meeting of the public accounts committee.
Monsieur Caron.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Before we start with the agenda, I would like to present a motion.
Since the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is one of the main committees for monitoring the government's activities, I would like to present a motion asking that the meeting be held in public today, so that we can be publicly accountable for our actions.
So the motion is that today's meeting be held in public.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Right.
I have a motion that this meeting continue in public. That motion is in order. There's no debate or amendment.
All in favour of that motion, please indicate.
(Motion negatived)
So the next order, Mr. Saxton....
What?
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Mr. Chair, before anything further proceeds, we have not entertained a motion to go in camera; we've just simply entertained a motion to remain on the public record.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Before any further business proceeds, there was an agreement achieved at the steering committee. You may recall that there was an offer made, and accepted, for the Auditor General of Canada to appear before the committee today. The offer was accepted by the Auditor General.
Subsequently, I believe you, Mr. Chair, for various reasons had to ask the Auditor General not to appear today, but we agreed amongst ourselves that, at a bare minimum, we'd ask the Auditor General of Canada to appear before us on October 5 of next week. There was an agreement taken amongst us that we would pass a motion to that effect.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Yes, and it is contained in the second report of the steering committee that is in front of us. As soon as I get to the report, that's the first item of business, and I've assured you that you have the floor at that time.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Well, we'll see about that.
Mr. Saxton, you had your hand up, sir.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, I would like to propose that we now deal with Mr. Byrne's proposal that we go ahead with the motion, which was agreed upon at the steering committee, that we have the Auditor General come on October 5. We would support that motion.
As you recall, it was originally proposed by me in camera. This shows the government's commitment to have the Auditor General come here and report on the spring report.
So we would like to support that motion.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Okay.
I will afford Mr. Byrne the opportunity, with your indulgence, to actually move it and to speak.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
It sounds good. I think we need to do that post-haste.
It's unfortunate we couldn't have the interim Auditor General today, as was originally planned, but we sought and achieved the compromise of at least October 5.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
I would be in agreement as well.
It's also unfortunate that the Auditor General could not be with us today. So I would like it if we could have him here on October 5.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, I am also very pleased with the compromise we have come to together.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Thank you. I won't say it came easy, but we did get there. That's what matters.
The floor is open for further debate.
Hearing none, I'll put the question. All those in favour of the motion, please indicate.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The motion is carried unanimously.
Mr. Saxton.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Also in steering committee, we made an agreement that we would have the committee schedule a meeting today, September 28, and, if necessary, Monday, October 3, to finalize the routine motions. I would like to put that motion before the committee right now as well, to be voted on.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Am I correct, then, in assuming that you're moving item two on our second report?
3:35 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Okay.
That is duly moved. Is there any debate?
Hearing none, all in favour of the motion, please indicate.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The motion is carried unanimously.
The floor is open.
Monsieur Caron.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
I would now like to move on to the notice of motion that was tabled on Monday and that was duly recorded with the clerk. I would like to propose it.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
I want to let Monsieur Caron know that now would be an appropriate time. If he chose, he could move his notice of motion now and we would debate it.