Evidence of meeting #106 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 contracts.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
She's clearly seen it in the news, I hope.
You haven't heard from the minister or been asked for any further information on this particular issue.
Comptroller General of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat
On this specifically, I have not, no.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
That is your time, Mr. Genuis.
Ms. Bradford, you have the floor for five minutes to end this. It is over to you, please.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Mr. Chair, unless Valerie wants the time, I believe we made a deal that I would be taking the time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Mrs. Shanahan, you have the floor. The clock has not yet started.
It is over to you, please.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Thank you very much.
Again, I welcome the meetings that we are having on this topic. It's a very important topic. It's all about finding out what happened and how the public service can do better as we go forward.
I am not happy about prescriptive directions to the public service about what should or should not be done, certainly not prior to a fulsome study on the topic. That is why I and my colleagues voted against the previous motion that was sprung on us without prior discussion, without looking for a way—which we have done in the past—to frame a motion that does not normally fall into this committee's remit, that is not normally in our mandate. However, we have found ways, working with all the parties, to put together a motion that would, indeed, represent the wishes of all members of this committee, because this is a committee that works, normally, on a consensual basis. It is very disappointing to see it being instrumentalized, used and weaponized by certain members for their own, I guess, social media purposes.
On that note, my concern is with producing a list of people without any context, and I would like to hear Mr. Huppé and the Auditor General on what they think of this motion.
Thank you.
Comptroller General of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat
Honestly, I don't have any comments on the motion. This is outside my pay grade here, so I'll let the system take care of itself from that perspective.
Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General
I'm not going to tell the committee how to carry out its business. What I can tell you is that there are rules that already exist around public servants needing to disclose whether they have other employment income sources. That disclosure is meant to ensure that there isn't a conflict of interest between the duties of a public servant and other duties that they may have.
I would argue that it's a situation in which the rules need to be enforced. It starts with awareness, making sure all public servants are aware that the rules exist, that the disclosure happens, and that the dialogue happens between a supervisor and an individual. Then, finally, once a decision is made as to whether other employment is allowed or not, it's well documented so that there are no situations of ambiguity, so that it is very clear that a public servant should not do something that would impede their ability to be objective and fair as they carry out their responsibilities.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Thank you for that. I think it's the reassurance we need that the rules are in place that proper procedures be followed. It is not for the political arm to start telling or governing or micromanaging the departments on the procedures of the public service. I think it's been said here before that we have a public service that is second to none. That's why it's even more important to find out who is acting contrary to that, who the bad apples are, and how we need to address those problems going further.
Chair, you did say that this would be the last slot. I'm afraid I have to move on as well, so I move that we do now adjourn.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
You are done. Do you want me to take a vote, or do you want me to excuse the witnesses?
Liberal
Conservative
