Public Accounts Committee on May 2nd, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I call the meeting back to order.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee is meeting to discuss committee business.

My objective here today is to ratify some of the decisions that were made in the subcommittee. We'll see how long it takes.

The subcommittee met on Wednesday, April 17, and Tuesday, April 30. I'd like to report back on behalf of the subcommittee.

Language was confirmed for a letter to Mr. David Yeo and Nicole Foster. The letter was then shared with the full committee and distributed to recipients.

It was agreed that a follow-up letter would be sent to David Yeo following his written responses. That letter was distributed to Mr. Yeo on April 23.

Language was proposed by a member, drafted by the analyst and confirmed in subcommittee for a letter to Microsoft. The draft has been sent to all members of the committee, and it is my desire to send that letter to Microsoft shortly.

I will read the letter first and look for your consent to send this off. It reads:

Pertaining to your testimony before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts of 9 April 2024, the committee requests copies of all communications between Microsoft Canada Inc. and the Canada Border Services Agency with regard to the ArriveCan Application in general as well as those pertaining to the bridge between ArriveCAN and the BSO (Border Services Officer) application based on what you told the committee.

Please send this information to Hilary Smyth, Clerk of the Committee, no later than May 21, 2024.

Do I have consent to send this?

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

That's to Microsoft.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Yes, it's to the official.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Yes, I like it.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Very good.

First of all, this is outstanding, but for the sake of full disclosure, we have a motion that was passed by the committee for an ArriveCAN committee meeting with KPMG. You'll recall that this motion was passed soon after the two original witnesses were in. In terms of maximizing the committee's time, I've added two others for the sake of efficiency that had been set before that, two other contractors, Donna Cona and TEKsystems.

In addition to this, as the subcommittee went through—and I think I reported this back already—we agreed to a suite of meetings. We've agreed to study “Report 6: Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act—2030 Emissions Reduction Plan”.

This first one requires no additional witnesses, because its a committee review of an audit from the Office of the Auditor General. That's on what I'll call autopilot.

We're going to look at “Report 4: National Trade Corridors Fund—Transport Canada”. Again, we hear from the principals and the Auditor General. It's on autopilot—no additional witnesses are needed.

Here we agreed to an additional meeting on “Report 2: Housing in First Nations Communities”. The witness list, as assembled by the subcommittee, was sent out to all members this morning.

Do I have your agreement to proceed with that meeting based on those witnesses? I'm seeing yeses.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Very good.

Last, there was agreement for an ArriveCAN meeting. That list was distributed to members, again, with the makeup as required by the motion in terms of representation.

Does that witness list look good, and may I proceed with that as well?

Go ahead, Mrs. Shanahan.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

I have questions as to the number of meetings. I see that you have Donna Cona on the list here, for example. That's already included.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

There are two ArriveCAN meetings that are outstanding. The first one you're referring to is....

I might have to look at the list you're looking at.

The first one with the contractors, KPMG in particular, was passed by a motion of this committee. Do you recall that?

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Yes, we saw KPMG.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

No, following that meeting, there was a motion to bring back one individual from KPMG.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Is that on this list?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

That's set by the committee already. The discussion of the subcommittee focused on the additional ArriveCAN meeting with the witnesses.

Let me go through the list. I'll let the clerk correct me.

We have the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, an official from the CBSA and then three individuals. That list was made up of suggestions from government members and opposition members.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

In the spirit of the motion we passed regarding the proportionality of witnesses, I seem to remember a previous meeting where.... I don't know who it was, because the members have changed. It might have been Mr. Nater who said that we now have to put a priority on our witnesses. We have to choose them.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

This list is that priority.

Wait one second.

Mrs. Shanahan, for the meeting, Liberal members would have four witnesses.

I'll hold it for a second.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Jean has just shown me a shorter list. That prioritization has taken place, then.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Yes, it was distributed.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Yes. Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Is that good?

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Yes, we're good with that. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Okay. We're moving right along here.

Go ahead, Mr. Desjarlais.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

I'm looking at the witness list for that. I believe I supplied the CBSA president.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Hold on. I have competing lists here. Can someone confirm this?

Yes, that individual will be included as well, Mr. Desjarlais.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Okay.