Government Operations Committee on Feb. 14th, 2024

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. David Chandonnet]

The motion, with the subamendment, reads:

That, in light of new reports that GC Strategies and other companies incorporated by the co-founders has received millions of dollars in government contracts, including a number of sole-sourced contracts, the committee request the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a performance audit, on a priority basis, of all payments to GC Strategies and other companies incorporated by the co-founders, and all contracts with the Government of Canada, including all departments, agencies and Crown corporations, including all subcontracts which GC Strategies and the aforementioned have been awarded under those contracts; and that this request and these findings be reported to the House.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Pardon me for jumping in, but it's “and that the committee report this request and these findings to the House.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That's your subamendment.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

My subamendment is to add those three words. The revised line would be that, just for clarity.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Could you do it in French for Mrs. Vignola as well?

Listen in to the translation to make sure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm starting a speaking list on Mr. Genuis's subamendment to Mr. Sousa's amendment.

I see Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

With regard to that point, I can support reporting the findings to the House, although it does seem redundant, given that the Auditor General's report would also be tabled in the House.

I'm not sure of the utility of reporting the request to the House, so I won't be supporting the subamendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's very simple. The House—and I think the chair already spoke to this—needs to make the request in order for it to actually be assured of happening. Parliamentary committees exercise important authority, but it's delegated authority from the House.

The Auditor General has been clear in the past that if a committee asks for an audit, the answer is “Okay, maybe.” If a private citizen writes to the Auditor General and asks for an audit, the answer is “Okay, maybe.” If the House, collectively, asks for an audit, it means something different.

Look, this doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out process in the House. I would suggest that once this is reported, Mr. Bachrach, you or someone else seek the unanimous agreement of the House to deem it concurred in right away. I don't think anybody will have any excuse for saying no. Then it will be done.

My appeal would be that we send the request in so that the House can do it, and let's do it quickly and decisively. There's no need for debate, provided that this process works.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I can support that, Mr. Chair.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

What are we supporting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

It's Mr. Genuis's subamendment to your amendment. Do you want me to have it read back one more time?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Just bear with us. I'll have the clerk read it back one more time.

[The Clerk]

The motion would read:

That, in light of new reports that GC Strategies and other companies incorporated by the co-founders has received millions of dollars in government contracts, including a number of sole-sourced contracts, the committee request the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a performance audit, on a priority basis, of all payments to GC Strategies and other companies incorporated by the co-founders and all contracts with the Government of Canada, including all departments, agencies and Crown corporations, including all subcontracts which GC Strategies and the aforementioned have been awarded under those contracts; and that the committee report this request and these findings to the House.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Do you need it read out in French, Mrs. Vignola, or was the translation fine?

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

The translation was excellent. I won't make you read it out again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

It appears to be your motion in the entirety with the added line of “this request and these findings to the House”. Otherwise, it appears to be your amendment.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Can you just send it to us? Just send it over, so that we can have....

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mrs. Block.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

In looking at this motion, I do have one question. Actually, I have one question for the mover of this amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We're on the subamendment. Mr. Genuis moved the subamendment that we're discussing right now.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Okay, so we're not talking about Mr. Sousa's amendment yet.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

No, we're on the subamendment.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Let's finish this up and then....