Debates of Dec. 9th, 2015

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2015-16

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, I was pleased to hear in the President of the Treasury Board's earlier remarks an acknowledgement, and I agree with him that spending money out of the contingency fund is by far and away not the most transparent way to conduct the spending of government.

Given that the member agrees with that and given that part of the purpose of the estimates is to replenish that contingency fund, presumably so it is available to be spent, would he agree that having the President of the Treasury Board come to the committee for government operations and estimates at the soonest available opportunity after an incident of spending out of that contingency fund would be the best way to preserve the prerogative of Treasury Board with respect to that fund and alert Parliament in a prompt and appropriate way about how the government is spending that money?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, I speak on behalf of all ministers in our government, who look forward to engaging with committees and to appearing before committees, and to defending our estimates before committees, and beyond that to engaging committees in a review of and reform of our procedures around estimates. There needs to be a better alignment between budgeting and the estimates process. That is essential to have respect for Parliament and to enable members of Parliament to actually know what they are voting on and what the cost of legislation is.

I am going to try not to be partisan in terms of reflecting on the previous government's behaviour in this way. I want to speak to the future. We intend to work with members of Parliament from all parties to do a better job of fortifying our ability as members of Parliament to do our jobs on behalf of Canadians and to hold government to account. That is a critical part of their job as members of Parliament.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, do we have a commitment from the minister to appear promptly before committee after spending is authorized by Treasury Board out of the contingency fund?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

The answer would be yes, Mr. Chair. We will do that and I look forward to doing it. Beyond that, we will be actively engaged with committees, both me as President of Treasury Board and my parliamentary secretary, the member for Vancouver Quadra. We will be engaged with the government operations committee and will also be engaged in the ethics committee, for instance, when we are talking about expanding and modernizing access to information. We will be engaging Parliament in that.

We believe we will make better decisions as a government with the full engagement of members of Parliament from all parties through the committee process. Committees are not going to be branch plants of ministers'offices under this government; they are going to be partners in progress as we build a better Canada.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

It being 6:37 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), all votes are deemed reported.

The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

Retirement Congratulations

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Before we adjourn, it has come to my attention that we have an official with us this evening who has been in the service of the House for 29 years. Mr. Luc Fortin, who is seated at my left at the Table, finishes his assignment here with the House this evening. He has given incredibly remarkable service to members and the House and to all of the various departments he has served. We are going to miss him.

Luc, we wish you and your family all the best in the years ahead, good health, and wonderful adventures ahead.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6:37 p.m.)