Public Accounts committee  Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum. We can now proceed to the election of chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect. First, I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can receive motions only for election of the chair. The clerk cannot recei

Public Accounts committee  It has been moved by Mr. Williams that Shawn Murphy be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Public Accounts committee  I declare the motion carried and Mr. Murphy duly elected. Before inviting Mr. Murphy to take the chair, if the committee wishes, we will now proceed to the election of vice-chairs. I'm now prepared to receive motions for first vice-chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the

Public Accounts committee  It has been moved by Mr. Hubbard that Mr. Sweet be elected as first vice-chair of the committee. Are there any further motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Public Accounts committee  I declare the motion carried and Mr. Sweet duly elected first vice-chair of the committee. I am now ready to receive motions for the position of second Vice-Chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second Vice-Chair must be a Member of an opposition party other than the Of

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Lussier moves that Mr. Laforest be elected second Vice-Chair of the committee. Are there any other nominations? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Public Accounts committee  I declare the motion carried and Mr. Laforest duly elected second Vice-Chair of the committee. I now invite Mr. Murphy to take the chair.

Public Accounts committee  I don't know if we've had examples of this type of motion in other committees up to this point, but obviously in terms of timing for committees, when committees are to adjourn or not continue, that's obviously up to the committee in any instance. If it is the pleasure of the comm

Public Accounts committee  With unanimous consent it can be.

Public Accounts committee  Generally, it would be something for which a decision would be called for immediately, so that if the decision is negatived you go right back to, in this case, Mr. Poilievre's main motion, which is the one that's currently before the committee. In this instance, my advice would b

Public Accounts committee  So far, in response to this letter, we've only had a reply from Denis Constant, so we're still waiting for a reply from Mr. Watson.

Public Accounts committee  Of the five witnesses mentioned in Mr. Poilievre's original motion, we have confirmed three so far--on March 4, Gary Polachek and Janice Cochrane; and on March 6, Ralph Goodale. As the chair mentioned, we're still trying to locate Mr. Bard, to get contact information for him.

Public Accounts committee  On March 4 we'll have Gary Polachek and Janice Cochrane, and on March 6, Ralph Goodale. There are still question marks for Mr. Gagliano and Mr. Bard.

Public Accounts committee  There's a legal authority to compel them, and that's a summons. There's the practical issue of being able to find them, being able to locate them. Occasionally there is great difficulty finding witnesses, as everyone probably has experienced in other committees as well.

Public Accounts committee  The summons would require a motion from the committee that specifically says the committee is going to summon person X to appear on such and such a date before the committee.