Government Operations Committee on May 1st, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We need unanimous consent for that.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

(Amendment withdrawn)

Thank you, everyone.

Mr. Jowhari, I see your hand up. Do you have an amendment?

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes—

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

Just on process, though, you need unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That's what I just did. You probably didn't hear.

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

I thought you'd have my back, but okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Genuis was withdrawing his amendment.

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

You're asking for unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I did, and no one objected.

Mr. Jowhari has an amendment.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

First of all, I want to thank all my colleagues. I wish that Canadians could see the work that's actually happened over the last 10 minutes. In the background we had a very open and frank conversation, and we landed somewhere that is going to serve Canadians best.

I would like to amend Madam Kelly Block's motion by removing the line, “Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, to appear for a two-hour meeting and the” and at the end add, “for a two-hour meeting, with the option to invite the minister if deemed necessary by the committee.”

I am going to read the whole motion again, with the amendment:

Given that a Global Affairs Canada investigation into government contracts found a failure rate of 26% and the report found that “the signed contract was not provided” and “one contract was approved 'by an individual who benefited from the transaction'”, the committee call the deputy minister and officials responsible for the report to appear for a two-hour meeting, with the option to invite the minister if deemed necessary by the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

On the amendment, I have Mrs. Vignola and then Mrs. Block.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

When you say the Global Affairs Canada investigation, do you mean the departmental reports?

I'd like us to be clear about what is being proposed and what we will have to read about it. I saw it in the newspapers, but I haven't finished reading the departmental reports yet.

I'd like us to be specific, perhaps not in the motion, but verbally, so that we clearly understand where that investigation is coming from.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

It was regarding an internal audit. I can send you the link in both official languages. It was a somewhat lengthy internal audit.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mrs. Block.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I believe that the amendment was to read, “the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs”.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

My sincere apologies. You are 100% right.

I will read it once again into the record:

Given that a Global Affairs Canada investigation into government contracts found a failure rate of 26% and the report found that “the signed contract was not provided” and “one contract was approved 'by an individual who benefited from the transaction'”, the committee call the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and officials responsible for the report to appear for a two-hour meeting, with the option to invite the minister if deemed necessary by the committee.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Are we all fine with that?

It is basically the original motion. It would be the auditors, the DM and then, as Mr. Jowhari originally said in his first intervention, if the committee deems necessary, we will loop back to the minister responsible.

(Amendment agreed to)

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Thank you very much, everyone. I appreciate everyone working together.

I have Mr. Genuis and then Mrs. Atwin.

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

Thank you very much, Chair.

I would like to proceed with another item.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

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

I have a motion on notice that I'd like to move, and—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Mr. Genuis.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I'm just wondering if we're returning to the original speaking order that we had. I believe I was next.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry. I probably skipped a part. I think we had considered the amendment, and the motion as amended had passed.