Evidence of meeting #39 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Joann Garbig

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

May I ask you to confirm that it is your intent that the Auditor General would be coming?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Absolutely.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Could I ask why you wouldn't follow tradition and start with the Auditor General?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Chair, this is my motion and you have it in front of you and we have the full intention to have the Auditor General come to committee. Absolutely.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Do you know when?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

That's what the planning session is for.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Okay. The motion is in order, it's before the committee, and I will take a speakers list.

Did you wish to speak any further, Mr. Saxton?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

No, Mr. Chair.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

I hear a point of order.

Mr. Allen.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON

Since I didn't get an opportunity to write exactly the list Mr. Saxton put forward, could the clerk read it back to us slowly? Actually, I'd like the whole motion.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Sure, that's always in order.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON

There's only one copy. That way we can actually see what it says. I think I got most of it, but I may have missed some of it.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

No, that's fine. It's always in order to be sure you know exactly what details you're debating and voting on. I'll ask the clerk to read it. Mr. Saxton, pay close attention to make sure we're in sync.

Go ahead, Madam Clerk.

April 24th, 2012 / 9:55 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Joann Garbig

That the committee invite deputy ministers from Public Works, National Defence, Industry Canada, and the Secretary to the Treasury Board, and that they bring any necessary officials with them to appear on Thursday, April 26.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Mr. Allen, does that meet your needs?

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON

Thank you, Chair.

I'm just finishing scribbling it down. I believe what I heard was that this Thursday coming, April 26, we'll have the deputy ministers of Public Works, DND, and Industry Canada, and the secretary from the Treasury Board, and that they will be allowed to bring who they deem necessary.

I would look to my colleague Mr. Saxton to tell me if I'm correct in that. If I'm incorrect, if you would help me understand it better, I would really appreciate it.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

We're still on clarification of the motion.

Mr. Saxton, would you respond, please?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

That is correct. These deputy ministers may wish to bring other officials with them, so it makes perfect sense that we would allow them to bring other officials with them. We don't want to limit the deputy ministers in who they bring.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Mr. Allen, did you get the information you're looking for?

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON

Yes, thank you, Chair.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

You're good. All right.

Where are we? We're about to start debating.

Mr. Saxton, are you good?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

I'm good.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Do I have a speakers list?

The floor is open.

Go ahead, Mr. Byrne.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL

I'd like to amend the motion, if I may, Mr. Chair.

This goes just before the final period:

and that following these witnesses, at a later date, Mr. Craig Morris, Deputy Director, F-35 Industrial Participation, Industry Canada; Johanne Provencher, Director General, Defence and Major Projects Directorate, Public Works and Government Services Canada; Mr. Tom Ring, Assistant Deputy Minister, Acquisitions Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada; Col D.C. Burt, Director, New Generation Fighter Capability, National Defence; Michael J. Slack, F-35 Project Manager, Director of Continental Materiel Cooperation, National Defence; LGen J.P.A. Deschamps, Chief of the Air Staff, National Defence; and Dan Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel), National Defence, be called to appear before our committee; that before any of the above witnesses appear, Mr. Michael Ferguson, Auditor General of Canada, be asked to appear as the first witness; and that witnesses appear as panels, with no more than two witnesses per panel, and each panel appear for a minimum of one hour.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Sorry, would you read the last part about the panels again, Mr. Byrne?