Evidence of meeting #140 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 ouimet.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Thank you.
My understanding is that there is a new process. There is a transition to the NRC with all of this.
Now, talking about misuse of public funds, Mr. Kukucha, did you previously appear at the industry committee on this exact issue?
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Were you asked any different questions today than you were asked at that time?
As an Individual
We've been asked a lot of questions. The tonality of this meeting was obviously fundamentally different than the last one, but I can't be specific. Yes, I've probably been asked several questions. It's been a very long and challenging meeting.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
How do you feel, then, Mr. Kukucha, when there has been a very clear and very quick direction from the minister, having understood the wrongdoing and having rectified it, on creating a path forward from it? How do you think these kinds of questions to you help or hurt our democratic institutions and the trust in them? We've clearly outlined today how SDTC has really helped the clean-tech sector.
As an Individual
Honourable member, facts matter, and context matters, and that leads to truth and ultimately to trust. Our democracy and our institutions will be hurt if we don't follow those processes.
I've tried my best in this hearing to provide context and the facts that I was aware of. I've tried my best to do a good job as a board member to enable the sector. I believe I've done that in good faith and have acknowledged some of the errors along the way.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much. That is the time.
I want to thank our witnesses, Mr. Ouimet and Mr. Kukucha, for their testimony and participation in relation to the study of “Report 6: Sustainable Development Technology Canada”.
You can submit additional information to the clerk.
For any questions, please consult with the clerk.
Gentlemen, you're both excused.
To my colleagues, I had intended to have committee business in camera. With your indulgence, I can probably get this done very quickly. It's just two outstanding budgets. Could I seek consent to move into that right away? We can do this in public. It's all going to be reported eventually.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
It's two budgets that were sent to you last week. They're supplementary budgets.
The first involves “Report 6: Sustainable Development Technology Canada”. We're requesting an additional $23,250. This is related to the relatively large number of witnesses the committee members have passed motions to hear from. As the clerk was careful to explain to me—because I do try to keep an eye on the purse strings—we're requesting these funds for possible travel. Should witnesses decide to come in virtually, obviously we won't spend these travel budgets and they'll be returned to the central budget.
With your approval, I'm looking for an additional $23,250 for the study of “Report 6: Sustainable Development Technology Canada”, which would bring the full budget to $25,250.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
On that, do you have a tally of how many of our dollars have been spent on this study thus far?
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Hold on. I have Mr. Drouin.
I'll come back to you, Mr. Perkins. I'd like to get this done.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Okay. I just wanted to know if what was spent today was less than $290 million.
Conservative
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Because we know that some members are part of INDU as well and INDU is looking at this, we're just looking for redundancy.
It's 2:05 p.m. We all have to get to question period.
I'd just like to get a tally of how much was spent before we say “yea” blindly, as we are discussing governance and the appropriation of funds.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
I will adjourn this. I will respond that if you want to go back and request from the clerk what budgets have been passed previously.... I believe it's only $2,000. However, as the clerk says, the invoices have not been submitted yet, so we don't have an exact tally on that.
I'll adjourn, but I'm happy to take your questions.
Ms. Khalid.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd just like some clarification from you as to how I should better raise my hand in the future, so that I can be recognized. I thought we had made eye contact and you knew I wanted to speak, yet I was not recognized.
I'm just trying to figure out what the best way is for me to raise my hand or to make sure you know I want to speak.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
I think it is to look for an acknowledgement from me or the clerk. That has been the practice.
As a practice—you can agree or disagree with this—I try not to rush things through in a manner that catches anyone off guard. I do wait a few seconds before calling the vote, just in case there is someone who wants to speak. I do that deliberately, on purpose, because I try to read the room in terms of where members are at, but I can also count heads. It is my duty as well to try to conduct this business so that it moves on, in this manner.
It is also one of my hard rules that once I call a vote, I don't retroactively reverse that, because of the precedent that would create. Of course, members are free to overrule me any time should they feel that I'm acting in a manner that is not fair and just to all.
On that, with your permission, I will adjourn, and we'll see you back on Wednesday.
The meeting is adjourned.