PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Joseph Volpe, presiding.

The Chair presented the Seventeenth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee, as amended, be concurred in.

The report reads as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, notwithstanding the motion agreed to on Thursday, February 3, 2011, and pursuant to the motion adopted on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, the Law Clerk be invited to appear on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, in relation to the study of the Report of the Auditor General of Canada concerning the Public Service Integrity Commissioner of Canada and the matter of the summoning of the former Public Service Integrity Commissioner of Canada.

Meili Faille moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), with regard to the report by the Auditor General on the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, the Committee asks the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Privy Council Office, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Status of Women Canada to produce all correspondence between their offices and the Office of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada for the period from April 30, 2009 to February 8, 2011; and that these documents and files be submitted to the Committee in both official languages before February 24, 2011.

Debate arose thereon.

A point of order was raised regarding the procedural admissibility of the proposed motion.

The Chair ruled the proposed motion admissible.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Meili Faille.

Jean-Claude D'Amours moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “February 8, 2011” the following: “moreover, that a copy of the letter of resignation and of any agreement between the government of Canada and Mrs. Ouimet after her resignation”

and by replacing the words “February 24, 2011” with the words “February 19, 2011”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jean-Claude D'Amours and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), with regard to the report by the Auditor General on the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, the Committee asks the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Privy Council Office, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Status of Women Canada to produce all correspondence between their offices and the Office of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada for the period from April 30, 2009 to February 8, 2011, as well as a copy of the letter of resignation and of any agreement between the government of Canada and Mrs Ouimet after her resignation; and that these documents and files be submitted to the Committee in both official languages by February 19, 2011.

Daryl Kramp deposited a document entitled “Disclosure Form For All Public Sector Employees”.

At 4:26 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:44 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses be excused.

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to regulate debate so as to dispose of the motion by 5:25 p.m..

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Meili Faille, as amended.

Daryl Kramp moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “February 19, 2011” the following: “and that the Privacy Commissioner be invited to provide guidance and clarification with respect to any potential privacy concerns the Committee may encounter with respect to the disclosure of the documents and records requested, including the rights found in the “Disclosure Form For All Public Sector Employees” of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

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

It was agreed, — That the Privacy Commissioner be invited to appear in relation to the study of the Report of the Auditor General of Canada - The Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada.

At 5:20 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.