Public Accounts Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Can we reveal the results of a secret vote?

[The Clerk]

That's not the practice.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

It wouldn't be a secret vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Now we're going to move forward with the adoption of routine motions. I will go through the list. We'll have a bit of business to discuss after routine motions are done. I don't want to say that this will be a short meeting and then it ends up not being one, but it will be a shorter meeting than we're used to.

[The Clerk]

The members of the committee received by email on February 6 the list of the routine motions adopted by this committee during the previous Parliament. Of course we're not bound by them, especially since the membership has changed a little, so numbers might change, but these are an indication of what type of motion this committee usually has.

The chair will be receiving motions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Green.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I have two motions and wanted to make sure that I presented them at the appropriate time. One is on quorum and one is on in camera proceedings. Would it please you, through this committee, that I bring them up at the appropriate time during the course of the routine motions, or would you like me to hold them until after?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I'd ask you to hold that one, around in camera.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Then you want the quorum motion during the routine proceedings, and then the in camera motion after.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

That's perfect. Thanks.

Mr. Longfield.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I have routine motions that we have been using, with a section on independent members' clause-by-clause.

I'm wondering whether we could use ours.

[The Clerk]

Is it very different?

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

This is what we're using in other committees. It was negotiated with all parties in this Parliament.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay. Can we distribute them, then, and we'll have a look at them.

Maxime.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

I just want to point out to the other members that the Bloc Québécois wasn't on the committee in the previous Parliament. As a result, we most likely need to review some motions regarding in camera meetings and the questioning of witnesses.

We know that some arrangements, some routine motions, have already been established. However, I wanted to raise this issue and inform my fellow members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We're going to go through each motion one by one.

Mr. Longfield, please read them. I will give people a chance to make sure they're onside. Where it's appropriate, Mr. Green can jump in.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

First of all, on analysts:

That the Committee retain, as needed at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist in its work.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I invite the analysts to come to the table.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

We've got some great analysts.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Fergus.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chair, before we begin, could the clerk introduce us to his fellow analysts so that we can all learn their names? We'll be working with them for the next few months, if not years.

[The Clerk]

Yes, gladly.

First, I should mention that I won't be with you for very long since I'm replacing your clerk, Angela Crandall. She's on sick leave at the moment, but she should be back on Tuesday, March 10. Her name is on the committee's website.

Since I used to be a clerk for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I know Mr. Theckedath and Mr. Léonard very well. I worked with them for almost two years. André Léonard and Dillan Theckedath have been analysts at the Library of Parliament for several years. If I remember correctly, they've been working with the committee for six years.

Is that right?

[Dillan Theckedath, Committee Researcher]

Five years.