OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Diane Marleau, presiding.

On motion of Raymond Simard, it was agreed, — That the following witness: Rob Walsh be invited to appear before the Committee later today in relation to Diane Bourgeois' motion on lease-backs of government buildings.

John Gordon and Michael Brandimore made opening statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

On motion of Raymond Simard, it was agreed, — That, given the lack of satisfactory information providing assurance to the Committee that the Employee Compensation Delivery System is functioning as it should and given the number of errors reported by government employees in the recent past, the Chair be authorized to send a letter to the Auditor General of Canada asking her to examine this file and make recommendations as to how federal public employees can be paid properly and on time.

It was agreed, — That the following witness: the Clerk of the Privy Council Office be invited to appear before the Committee in relation to issues concerning the Federal Government Employee Compensation Delivery System.

At 4:56 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Diane Bourgeois, — That the Committee report to the House as follows:

That, because the Committee is not convinced of the benefit of lease-backs for the taxpayer, the government place a moratorium on the sale of the proposed buildings so that the Department of Public Works and Government Services can provide the Committee with the relevant studies and information on the impact of these lease-backs.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Peggy Nash moved, — That the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates continue its study on Trade Agreements and Federal Government procurement, to better understand the limitations and possibilities for leveraging federal procurement to create made-in-Canada jobs with a view to making recommendations to the House of Commons; and

That the appropriate officials from the Canadian business community, Canadian Labour Congress, as well as trade and procurement experts from think tanks like the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives be invited to share their thoughts and recommendations.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

At 5:42 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.