Public Accounts Committee on Sept. 28th, 2011

[The Chair, NDP, David Christopherson]

Thank you.

Next is Mr. Dubé.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to support the motion and the comments of my colleagues on the importance of continuing the meeting in public and of discussing this motion.

I think that everyone can agree that we are working on a committee that aims to ensure transparency, because the government must be accountable for the way it spends money. This speaks to the values of all members, all parties combined.

However, if we leafed through these reports, we could easily understand that it is important to continue the work, given the amounts of money invested. I'm thinking, for example, of chapter 3 on the restoration of the Parliament buildings. It is worth continuing to look into that. Enormous amounts of money have been invested in this. When that kind of money is at stake, Canadians have a right to know what the money is being used for.

We could very well continue this work in public.

[The Chair, NDP, David Christopherson]

Merci.

Mr. Hayes.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you.

With the election, much has changed. These issues dealt with the 40th Parliament, which we're no longer in. I'm a new member of Parliament, so I have to speak from the perspective of a new MP. I was not privy to the decisions leading up to the request for studies and reports. I think that puts me at a disadvantage. Without having had a chance for input as to the need for the reports in the first place...we're here because we have a certain level of expertise. I'm probably on this committee because I'm a CGA. I'm not sure I would have agreed to any of those reports. Things have changed rather significantly.

To me it makes much more sense that this new committee move forward on issues of current concern rather than retroactively looking at studies and reports that were driven by a committee that had a completely different makeup in this particular committee. It makes no sense to me. And this is not precedent setting. I spent three terms on city council in Sault Ste. Marie, and when a new council came in we dealt with new and current issues. We didn't deal with issues of the past. That was the reason you had a new council.

Furthermore, we barely have enough time to address the work currently before this committee. We have the Auditor General's spring and soon-to-be-released fall report. We have a new Auditor General to review. We have the public accounts to study in November. As you have mentioned, there are several delegations who are looking to meet with members of this committee. There's just not the time to be looking at these. We need to be looking forward as a committee of this makeup. I'm opposed to the motion put forward.

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, David Christopherson]

Thank you, Mr. Hayes.

Mr. Saxton.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

With all due respect to comments that were made by opposition members, I would like to say that it is common practice in this committee that when we're discussing committee business we do so in camera. It's certainly something that is very common and it's something we need to do. Therefore, at this point in time, I would like to put forward a motion that we go in camera at this time.

[The Chair, NDP, David Christopherson]

Thank you.

The motion is in order. It's not debatable and it's not amendable. I'll put the question immediately to the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

[Proceedings continue in camera]