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PACC Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 2

Tuesday, November 19, 2002

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Robert Bertrand, John Bryden, Odina Desrochers, John Finlay, Pat Martin, Philip Mayfield, Val Meredith, Shawn Murphy, Beth Phinney, Alex Shepherd and John Williams.

Acting Members present: Laurence MacAulay for John Bryden; Maria Minna for Mac Harb; Raymond Simard for Joe Peschisolido and Laurence MacAulay for Sophia Leung.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Brian O’Neal and Jean Dupuis, Analysts.

The Committee proceeded to its Business (Routine Motions).

Shawn Murphy moved, - That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, an additional Liberal member and a representative of each of the Bloc Québecois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

Val Meredith moved, - That the motion be amended by adding after the words “each of” the following:

“the Canadian Alliance,”

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived by show of hands. YEAS: 4; NAYS 7.

The motion was carried by a show of hands. YEAS: 8; NAYS 3.

On motion of John Finlay, it was agreed, - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Beth Phinney, it was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least five (5) members are present including three (3) government members and two (2) members of the opposition.

Alex Shepperd moved, - That in the absence of a reduced quorum of five (5) members, the Chair be authorized to call the meeting to order to hear evidence no sooner than 15 minutes after the time indicated on the notice provided that three (3) members are present.

Val Meredith moved, - That the motion be amended by adding after the words “three (3) members are present” the following:

“including one member of the Opposition”.

And debate arising thereon,

Beth Phinney moved, - That the amendment be amended by adding the words:

“and a member of the government”.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed to combine the amendment and sub-amendment.

The amendment was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, carried.

On motion of Philip Mayfield, it was agreed, - That the witnesses be given five (5) minutes to make their opening statement and if they have additional information, it should be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee, and that during the questioning of the witnesses, there be allocated eight (8) minutes for the first questioner of each party and that thereafter four (4) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Val Meredith, it was agreed, - That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of 2 representatives for any organization.

On motion of John Finlay, it was agreed, - That the Committee authorize the Chair, from time to time, as the need arises, to take, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches/dinners be charged to the budget of the Committee.

On motion of Robert Bertrand, it was agreed, - That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents received from the public only after they have been translated and made available in both official languages.

Beth Phinney moved, - That unless there is unanimous consent, forty-eight (48) hours’ notice must be given to the members of the Committee before ANY SUBSTANTIVE MOTION is considered by the Committee.

After debate, the motion carried.

At 4:18 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Richard Rumas


Clerk of the Committee