Evidence of meeting #29 for Public Accounts in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was privacy.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Well, you've heard the statement--
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
But the chair has already said we can't ask questions in that regard anyway. Before you ever get to them, you're not going to get past him.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
I would rather have a full and candid discussion in camera than a discussion where everybody's guarded about what they should be asking or what they should be answering.
Frankly, I don't know what the boundary lines are, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Mr. Weston, whether we go in camera is entirely up to the committee.
Even if we go in camera, the same restrictions will apply in the questions. There will be no greater latitude in the questions in camera than in public. But again--
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Things can slip out. Our witnesses, I suspect, would be more comfortable if we were in camera.
I have no axe to grind in this regard, but it just seems to me that if this is going to be a useful hearing, we should be as unencumbered as we can be within the limitations imposed on us by parliamentary procedure and rules.
Liberal
Conservative
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I disagree; I'm always open to listening, but I haven't heard a good reason. Going in camera and throwing the media out is a big deal, and I just don't see the grounds.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
The witnesses have already made it clear that they're uncomfortable.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
The chair's not going to allow those questions anyway. Good Lord, it's not complicated.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
If I may interject here, members, you'll appreciate that we're under some time constraints. I will allow two more interventions. Then we'll put the question to go in camera.
Mr. Young, Ms. Crombie, and then we'll put the question.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
The witnesses have already said that it's highly unusual for Public Works to publicly comment on a request for proposals during the solicitation period. I think the reasons are obvious to everyone in this room. They've also said that they're very concerned that any statements made with respect to the RFPs or its procurement may be interpreted as modifications, etc.
I understand the sensitivity. I think everybody in this room would understand the sensitivity. If somebody makes a mistake, or somebody says something they shouldn't, or, God forbid, the chair makes a mistake, it could be difficult with regard to the process. Why take the risk?
Thank you.
NDP
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Young, we will employ the utmost sensitivity. I feel comfortable that the chair will rule any comment out of order should we go into grounds that we shouldn't.
We're all about openness and transparency. We know what the rules are. We're all adults. I don't see a problem.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
All in favour of converting to an in camera meeting, raise your hand.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
You can if you want.
We're voting on the motion that the committee sit in camera.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Given the sensitivity of the matter, and given that the tender, I believe, is due in a day's time or two, it would be my decision to go in camera.
I will so order the clerk to make the change.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
I would ask that the room be cleared of people other than members of the committee, the staff of the members of the committee, and employees of the House of Commons.
We'll suspend for thirty seconds to allow that to happen.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
[Public proceedings resume]
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Okay. I call the meeting back to order.
We are resumed as a meeting of the public accounts committee. We've just concluded an in camera session.
Mr. Christopherson, you have a comment, I believe.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Just for the record, it is that the minutes reflect that the committee is satisfied with its review of this and we have no further interest in this file, or whatever words are appropriate.
