Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
Mr. Fragiskatos, did you have your hand up? I missed it if you did.
Did you want to speak to this?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
It would be a close call, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure who had their hand up first, but since I'm speaking, I'll just agree with what Ms. Shanahan said. I will agree with what Mr. Lawrence said.
This is with all due respect to our our new colleague. Congratulations to him on his election. I'm looking forward to working with him.
However, these are sound points that have been raised in opposition to the motion. I would request a vote on division.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
I have a procedural matter to settle with the clerk. Give me one second.
Colleagues, is there anyone else who wishes to speak to this matter?
Go ahead, Mr. Lawrence.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
I am just wondering if Mr. Desjarlais wants to have this on the record, for whatever reason. I wouldn't like the first vote of the public accounts committee necessarily to be on division. I would like it to be unanimous.
If there is any way, Mr. Desjarlais, we could convince you to withdraw your motion, that would be fantastic. It would be a great note for the committee going forward. However, it is completely your right to head to a vote, if that is your desire.
11:40 a.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
I want to thank the member for that suggestion. Of course, our job would be much easier if we could all agree on all things, and I think we would be representing different groups. But I think Canadians of all stripes and patterns deserve to have a voice in this House, and I think this is something that Canadians have asked us to present in committees. I would like to go to a vote on this and a recorded division. I think it's important for Canadians who would like to see the members of this House and members of this committee who are in favour of ensuring that there are set parameters for in camera use. I think it's a better mode of governance but I think we'll test that in the vote.
Thank you very much, but I will not withdraw the motion.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
That is your right, Mr. Desjarlais.
I will ask one last time. Would any other members like to speak to this motion?
Are we ready to proceed to the vote then? Members are you in agreement? Do you agree with the motion?
Order. You can tell I've had to chair meetings of national caucus, which are much longer. I'm just looking at everybody debating. I want to make sure that you vote the way you intend to and not the way you think it should go in your mind.
Madam Clerk, please proceed with the recorded division.
11:40 a.m.
The Clerk
The vote is on the motion by Mr. Desjarlais concerning going in camera
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
(Motion negatived: nays 9; yeas 1)
Is there any other new business that any member would like to bring forward?
Mr. Dong.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
On a point of order, Chair, just want to say hello to my new colleague Mr. Desjarlais. I am very much in favour of Mr. Lawrence's point. I would love to see the vote be a consensus vote, but I would also like to point out that there are rules currently about what can go in camera. There are procedures for that. I just want to assure you that this doesn't mean that it's going to hinder any transparency of this committee. I look forward to fruitful discussions with my colleagues, but don't be discouraged by the vote.
11:45 a.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Thank you very much, to my honourable colleague on Zoom. Hopefully when this is a little easier and the COVID-19 variant is not out of control as it is, we will have a chance to meet in person. I want to thank you for you kind words. I do believe that even against difficult decisions we can have proper, cordial and even consensus-based decisions, and I really look forward to doing the work we will do in this committee with each and every one of you. I will just add that I am an indigenous person, and so I am used to this. So don't worry about that. Thank you very much.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
Is there any other business that members would like to consider?
Madam Yip.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I would like to suggest a training presentation by the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation. Since we have so many new members here, I think it would be good to be comfortable knowing what we do in public accounts.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Let's make it into a motion, and that way it's more formal.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
Okay. I'll accept that.
Is there any debate?
Madam Yip, do you want to add anything to that before I take a round of speakers? No.
I am looking to the room to see if anybody would like to speak on this matter.
Mr. Bragdon.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Richard Bragdon Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think that's a good idea, but I would limit that to probably one session of training. Several of us have been on other committees, but for the benefit of maybe a new person, one training session would be good, although I wouldn't want to see it prolonged over an extended period of time. Limiting it to one session would be fine.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Kmiec
Madame Yip, would you consider that a friendly amendment, just to move on, if we have training for one meeting? Yes?
