Evidence of meeting #144 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 office.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:10 a.m.
Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General
I was there. All I know is that there was a report at that time, but the committee wasn't made permanent. I can't give you much more than that.
10:15 a.m.
Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General
It was not made permanent.
10:15 a.m.
Interim Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General
We can follow up on this issue.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I will give you your time.
There was an independent panel. Is the panel the same as the committee you're talking about?
10:15 a.m.
A voice
Yes.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right, carry on. This is Mr. Arseneault's time.
Mr. Hayes, I think you were still answering, were you not?
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Interim Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General
I was just making a note to follow-up with the committee as to whether the report was made public after that pilot project. We'll find out, and we'll let the committee know.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Leswick, is your department currently in talks or planning to establish an independent mechanism for the Office of the Auditor General's requests?
10:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Department of Finance
I think Mr. Hayes outlined all of the options very well. I think it's a very contemporary conversation. The officers have co-addressed letters to the Clerk of the Privy Council and others in the bureaucracy to advocate for their positions, so I think the options are pretty clear.
As for the ad hoc panel, I think that fundamentally when it ultimately expired, it wasn't renewed. I think there was some question as to whether it achieved an appropriate separation from the executive because, as Mr. Hayes suggested, the panel was still recommending an amount to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Finance.
That was its machinery, which never really fulfilled what is the crux of the issue, which is this pure separation between parliamentary authority and will versus the hands of the executive members of government.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
You have a couple of minutes.
It will be the final question, and then I'll have a few comments.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I want to add to what a distinguished parliamentarian in the House of Commons said about the importance of the separation of powers and the credibility of the officers of Parliament. My question concerns the most recent comment. The current government, when it was elected, promised us transparency and told us that Canada was back on the international stage. Nevertheless, we've seen interference with shipbuilding and procurement contracts and the dismissal of Vice-Admiral Norman. We've seen the Minister of Justice resign. She claimed that she was told what to do, including to interfere with the justice system even though her powers were executive. This has never been seen before in Canadian history. We have a problem. We're promised transparency. However, the Liberals are undermining the reputation of the Office of the Auditor General, the organization with the best international reputation, by trying to reduce its budget and guide its work.
I want to know what you're proposing to ensure the independence of the Auditor General.
Thank you.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC
I just want to clarify something. There may not be the desired increase, but there's no budget reduction.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative