Thank you for that, Mr. Paul-Hus.
Before we start debate on this issue, when I look at the time frame that we're in right now, I would like to thank the witnesses for being with us. I will dismiss them at this point in time, because we're running out of time.
Thank you, Ms. Sloan, Mr. Huebert and Mr. Shimooka, for attending and for your testimony today. We greatly appreciate it.
With that said, I will dismiss you from the meeting.
I would like to indicate to the committee that, when we receive these motions that have been put before us, I always look at them one by one to make certain they are acceptable or admissible to what we're doing, and I will usually discuss that with the clerk. I will research it myself, after I've talked to speakers and others I know about these issues.
With that said, I've looked at the Standing Orders on this particular motion, and, basically, Standing Order 108(3)(c) sets out the mandate of the government operations and estimates committee, including under subparagraph (i), which I will quote: “the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans of the central departments and agencies”.
The Prime Minister's Office is the most powerful of the central agencies and is supported by the Privy Council Office, which is the most powerful central agency within the government. It was suggested throughout by some people whom I discussed this with that it might be a political motion. I would answer that with the press release announcing the agreement between the Liberals and the NDP on March 22, distributed using Government of Canada resources and posted on the Prime Minister's departmental website. If this is a political party matter and not a Government of Canada matter, that announcement and press release would have been posted on the Liberal Party of Canada's website and distributed by the Liberal Party of Canada.
Further, this agreement includes a commitment from the Prime Minister that his office and his government will pursue specific policies and legislation as part of the agreement, which will require management from the Government of Canada to implement, will be part of the operations of central agencies and will require the expenditure of funds to achieve the agreement upon policies.
Subparagraph (vii) of Standing Order 108(3)(c) states, “the review of and report on the process for considering the estimates and supply, including the format and content of all estimates documents”. Whereas this agreement is titled “supply and confidence agreement”, this agreement falls under the business of supply. Therefore, I would consider this under the mandate of the committee for review.
With that said, I will consider this as admissible. At this point, we're open for debate.
Mr. Paul-Hus.