Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Yes. Nothing changes. It's just the response, which is probably already done. You're asking that the response be tabled.
Are we fine with that, colleagues?
Go ahead, Ms. Gaudreau.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
We received the motion. That said, I need time not only to read it, but also to understand it. I didn't see it beforehand.
Since I just received it, I'm really not ready to vote on it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Do you require a couple of minutes?
Again, it's not to do anything or change anything in the report. We didn't receive the response back from the government on the report; that's all we're looking to receive from it.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Chair, I needed to read the text of the motion. I just read it and I agree with it.
Liberal
Pauline Rochefort Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Maybe this is not the proper setting to ask this question, but from a process perspective, do motions typically come in writing before a meeting, or does this regularly occur? It's just a follow-up—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
When we're in committee business like this, it can be from the floor. Otherwise, it's two days' notice, by four o'clock.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Generally, it's half-and-half, depending on what's going on.
We're just looking for an answer from the government, which I think it already has. Are we fine with that?
(Motion agreed to)
Go ahead, Mrs. Block, and then I'll....
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That's wonderful.
Before we rise, thank you, everyone. I look forward to working with everyone. We'll be a bit more organized, although we keep things pretty informal in this committee.
Technically, you can't do friendly amendments, but when we have general consensus, we will, in order to keep things friendly and keep things moving quickly.
I forgot to thank a special person who is a very good friend of the committee. I was watching Senate finance committee, because I don't have a life, and they put through a motion praising Mr. Giroux, the Parliamentary Budget Officer. They endorsed renewing his mandate as the PBO, because it expires on September 2. We're not going to get an opportunity to see Mr. Giroux come in before then, so I wanted to thank him on behalf of the committee for all his work.
I jokingly teased that George Martin was the fifth member of The Beatles and Mr. Giroux was the 12th member of OGGO. He was always available to us. Sometimes we called him with only a couple of hours' notice to appear at the committee. I saw him spar with every member of this committee, whether Liberal, Bloc, NDP or Conservative. I certainly didn't always agree with his analyses, but I always thought they were very thorough, very non-partisan and very straightforward.
Mr. Giroux, if you're watching, because I know you watch OGGO—who doesn't?—thank you very much from the committee. You're a fantastic friend of the committee. I appreciate all the work you've done for us.
Go ahead, Mrs. Block.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Chair, would it be in order for us as a committee to also propose that his term be renewed? Would it take a motion to do that?
I agree with your assessment. I think we would benefit very much from his expertise. Given that the Senate has already passed a motion, could I put a motion forward today that the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates request the renewal of the Parliamentary Budget Officer?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
It's a recommendation. Is it just to follow the one from the Senate?
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
I guess what I would suggest is that the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates recommend the renewal of the Parliamentary Budget Officer's mandate upon its expiration, ensuring the continued provision of independent financial analysis and reports to this House.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you. I understand that it's just a recommendation. Unfortunately, they're not binding, although I think everything out of OGGO should be binding.
Go ahead, Ms. Gaudreau.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I couldn't agree more. Mrs. Vignola and all my colleagues who worked with Mr. Giroux appreciated the competence, professionalism and thoroughness of his work.
I think that it's a good idea to recommend that he serve another seven‑year term if I'm not mistaken.
I'm really pleased that the committee has made this recommendation.
Conservative
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
I was incredibly thankful for the PBO. I was able to call him to my office, and he came with his team. We were able to go over some things at the very beginning of my time here so that I'd be better prepared to speak with the finance minister. He and his team did fantastic work. I definitely would love to see him continue.
Liberal
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I echo the sentiment that the PBO does a great job. I respect them greatly.
Wouldn't it be highly inappropriate, though, for a committee to be presenting such a recommendation for an agent of Parliament when there is a bit of an arm's-length relationship? We can say that we commend them and thank them for their work, but I don't think that there's precedent for a recommendation from the committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Committees are their own bosses, so to speak. If it's the will of the committee, yes, we can. There's nothing inappropriate about it. I don't know if we can use their wording, but the Senate finance committee did the identical thing. Again, it's not binding; it's just a recommendation, an expression of opinion.
Go ahead, Ms. Rochefort.
Liberal
Pauline Rochefort Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Could I recommend putting forward a motion that would suggest that we just recognize his good work and provide words of appreciation?
I'm not sure if there was a motion. I think you had put forward a motion—
Liberal
Pauline Rochefort Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
It's still the word itself, “recommend”, that I'm uncomfortable with. I think our duty is to acknowledge the good work and put forward words that recognize that good work but not necessarily recommend the renewal of his contract.