Evidence of meeting #129 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.
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6:23 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
We'll come back to you.
Again, I want to stress that we are debating the amendment to the motion. Instead of asking for extra resources, it is to schedule the time on the 13th and the 20th.
I have Ms. Shanahan, then Mr. Nater and then Mr. Green.
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Thank you, Chair.
I'll keep it short. I think there were good-faith discussions, and we certainly are in agreement with the amendment put forward by Mr. Green.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
I will keep it equally short. We also support the amendment.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Okay. Mr. Green, the floor is back to you.
If there are no interveners, we'll turn to the vote. Of course, I cannot call that vote until the debate has collapsed.
You have the floor, Mr. Green.
6:25 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I don't want to waste any of the goodwill, but I will just say that I used to serve on the public accounts committee. I know it's a space that tends to be, when it is operating at its best, less partisan than most, but the practice was always to have a subcommittee that planned meetings. I know that in the ethics committee, we ran into a challenge when the chair took it upon himself, even though it was within the Standing Orders, to call a meeting without any consultation with anybody else, particularly opposition parties. I would just say to you, John, that it didn't go well.
I would encourage, whether it be at this committee or others, the Conservative side, when they're chairing, to understand that without consultation with the opposition parties—in particular, the Bloc and the NDP—that, at least from my perspective, becomes a pretty significant problem.
I will take you at your word that that's not the case, and I look forward to seeing this motion passed so we can go back to our evening.
Thank you.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Sure.
Since you and others inquired, I will just say that this committee did, at its last meeting, pass and approve the first subcommittee decision, not just during my chairmanship but during the 44th Parliament. That had not been a practice, but we have reinstated it as a working process, and we'll continue to do that.
As you know as well, the reason some of these committees, the oversight committees, are chaired by opposition members is to ensure oversight. That's why the Standing Orders are written the way they are. I believe this chair was occupied by one of your former colleagues.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Of course, he was cautious in exercising it, but did so diligently as well.
Clerk, please call the vote on Mr. Green's amendment to the motion.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)
The amendment is passed, and the motion is now modified. The last line now reads:
and the committee accommodate these witnesses during regular committee meetings.
That is the motion as it now stands.
Is there debate, or would you like to turn to a vote?
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)
If there's no other business, we will see you Tuesday, when we will consider “Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act—2030 Emissions Reduction Plan”.
On that note, I will adjourn the meeting. We will see you Tuesday.