Evidence of meeting #142 for Public Accounts in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I'm not sure I want to be that specific. That's why I mentioned that we may have to have a third meeting next week.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
That was the main thing.
I don't want to say on Tuesday that it looks like we have a deal and we haven't asked the AG if they can come or not. My enemy is the clock. This House is going to rise in a couple of weeks and we need to get this done.
Conservative
NDP
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, will you please repeat back to me what you think is going to happen so we understand it?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
As I understand it—and I'll have my analyst or my clerk remind me if there's anything else—should we have a way forward here, we would suspend this meeting. We would then go in camera and work on our legacy document. On Tuesday we would come back when the invitation has gone out and the letter has been drafted. We would then have to get a consensus from the group to send it forward. Otherwise, it may just go from the three individuals, so we do that.
On Tuesday we would go into our draft reports that we have on Tuesday, if we're still going forward. If not, we cede the floor back to you on your motion again. Depending on what day the Auditor General and the deputy minister come, we would plan on that meeting as well, whether it be a Thursday, a Wednesday, the following week or whatever.
There are other areas where I see there could be a fall. I wonder what happens, to be quite honest, if the Auditor General is willing to come but the deputy minister isn't. What happens if the Auditor General can't come when we can meet? This in in good faith that we're moving forward. The government side, the opposition and you, we're all moving forward in good faith. I can't say that this is going to go off like clockwork, but I think we have a good solution here and goodwill. I want to keep adding, from all members of the committee.
NDP
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Angela Crandall
Yes, I'd just like to minute this as a unanimous decision of the committee, first. Then, when I send the invites, the committee's motion can be included in it, which gives the invite the support of the committee more strongly.
The Clerk
Yes, it will include the context of what has been said here about inviting the deputy minister of finance and the Auditor General to discuss the issue. What we've been discussing will be very clear to everybody once they get the invitation.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I would just avoid a motion, if we can, because I can see us getting lost in it.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
If that's the way you want to go, fine. That's why I was looking for an understanding, but if you need something to convey, that's fine, too.
Let's give it a shot. I mean, hope springs eternal.
I would still like to believe, I could be wrong, that the government members are working in the background trying to make this go away because it's a lot more than 10.8 million dollars' worth of problem.
Let's give it a shot and see if we can't work together to effect the change we need.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Mr. Christopherson.
Seeing no other hands, we will suspend and come back in one minute to look at our legacy report.
[Proceedings continue in camera.]