Public Accounts Committee on May 27th, 2008

[Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chairman, we also feel that the two parties are trying to win our support, but we intend to vote in favour of this motion. Admittedly, we did call in the minister to testify. As Mr. Christopherson said, we did seek some answers from the highest authorities, but these answers didn't satisfy me. We specifically put some questions to the minister and to the person hired by the minister or by the department, at a cost of $122,000, to write a speech. Earlier, the Conservatives said we were focusing our attention on a $122,000 contract. It's not the amount that's important, but rather the principle here. We need to know more if we are to understand what transpired in the case of this important departmental contract.

The minister said that because we were dealing with a budgetary imbalance, certain important elements had to be properly presented to the public. We did not get all of the answers that we were looking for. We need to know why a small company operating more or less out a basement was awarded the contract to write this speech. Something is fishy here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Merci, Monsieur Laforest.

The last minute belongs to you, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We also see a disturbing pattern here. Unlike what was said, the minister did not take responsibility for it. As Mr. Christopherson said, it was shifted to his political staff and a staffer who has moved on but never had the opportunity to address the issues.

It's not whether or not he's made that request. It's incumbent on a committee of accountability, when blame for this type of error or when rule-breaking occurs, especially when it becomes quite clear it was being placed on one individual, to find out whether it was this one individual or were others involved. The same person was named in a similar and continuing pattern of contracts. It's disturbing to see a pattern of people with deep ties to the Conservative Party receiving contracts that are just below what the rules allow.

So it would be incumbent on us to find out what happened in this case, and perhaps that would prevent it from happening in the future.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

You have all seen the motion with a slight amendment. Everyone is aware of it. I'm going to ask the clerk to conduct a recorded vote.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Justin Vaive]

A recorded vote on Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's motion.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Mr. Williams has a point of order.

[John Williams, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Chairman, you said you called for a recorded vote, but your job is to maintain order in the committee. If the committee wants a recorded vote they will ask for one. Your job is to maintain order. You can maybe get a ruling from the clerk, but as the chair I don't think you have that prerogative. You can check it out and let us know in the future.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

The clerk indicated before I asked, Mr. Williams, that I could record.

Is there anything else?

The meeting is adjourned.