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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. 3
 
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
 

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 9:08 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Odina Desrochers, Paul Forseth, Roger Gaudet, Peter Goldring, Marlene Jennings, Joe Jordan, Walt Lastewka, Dominic LeBlanc, Philip Mayfield, Beth Phinney, Alan Tonks, Judy Wasylycia-Leis and John Williams.

 

Acting Members present: Elinor Caplan for Steve Mahoney, Robert Lanctôt for Dominic LeBlanc, Dennis Mills for Shawn Murphy and Kevin Sorenson for Val Meredith.

 

Other Members present: Anita Neville.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean Dupuis, Analyst; Brian O'Neal, Analyst.

 

Appearing: Hon. Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board.

 

Witnesses: House of Commons: Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee commenced consideration of Chapter 3, the Sponsorship Program, Chapter 4, Advertising Activities and Chapter 5, Management of Public Opinion Research of the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada referred to the Committee on February 10, 2004.
 

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

 
The Chair presented the First Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, as follows:
 
The Subcommittee met on Thursday, February 12, 2004 and agreed to make the following recommendations:
 
- That the Committee retain counsel from the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel for the duration of its study into Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada;
 
- That the Committee’s main focus be on Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada;
 
- That the Committee also examine, as time permits, Chapter 10 of the November 2003 Report, which includes the government purchase of Challenger jets, independent reviews of security and intelligence agencies and, the surplus in the Employment Insurance Account;
 
- That the Chair be authorized to write a letter to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates encouraging that Committee to examine Chapter 2 of the November 2003 Report;
 
- That the Chair endeavour to hold three meetings a week; and
 
- That the evidence received by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in relation to its study of the special report of the Auditor General of Canada on the audit of the financial management and administration of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada of September 2003 during the 2nd Session of the 37th Parliament be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session.
 
On motion of Joe Jordan, it was agreed, - That the First Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.
 
Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, - That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts report to the House of Commons that the Committee urges the government to introduce effective whistle-blowing legislation at the earliest opportunity.
 
Debate arose thereon.
 
The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.
 
Rob Walsh made a statement and answered questions.
 

At 10:11 a.m., Beth Phinney took the Chair.

 

At 10:15 a.m., John Williams took the Chair.

 
By unanimous consent, on motion of Joe Jordan, it was agreed, - That the Committee strike a subcommittee for the purpose of developing a process to address the issues around witnesses and testimony, that the subcommittee be composed of one member from each party and that the subcommittee have all the powers of the Committee except the power to report to the House.
 

At 11:07 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Jeremy LeBlanc
Committee Clerk

 
 
2004/02/18 9:10 a.m.