OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met at 11:02 a.m. this day, in Room 228, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Pat Martin, presiding.

Wayne Rogers, by videoconference from Edmonton, Alberta, Benjamin Shinewald, John Smiciklas, Ryan Eickmeier and Peter Love made statements and answered questions.

Linda Duncan gave notice of the following motions:

That the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order 111, invite to appear Daniel Tucker, appointee to the position of Commissioner of the Public Service Commission, and that the Committee examine his qualifications to perform the duties of the post to which he has been appointed.

That the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order 111, invite to appear Graham Flack, appointee to the position of Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations and Intergovernmental Affairs), Privy Council Office, and that the Committee examine his qualifications to perform the duties of the post to which he has been appointed.

That the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order 111, invite to appear Timothy Sargent, appointee to the position of Acting Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office, and that the Committee examine his qualifications to perform the duties of the post to which he has been appointed.

John McCallum moved, — That the Committee strike a subcommittee to study partisan communications and the communications policy of the government, including related policies, laws and regulations, provided that: (a) the membership of the subcommittee be comprised of eight members, including four members from the government, three members from the Official Opposition and one member from the Liberal Party, to be named following the usual consultation with the Whips; (b) the Chair of the subcommittee be a member of the Official Opposition; (c) the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit during a time when the Committee is not sitting in Ottawa, to sit when the Committee is sitting outside the Parliamentary Precinct and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned; (d) the Subcommittee adopt the routine motions of the Committee, other than the creation of a Subcommittee on agenda and procedure; (e) the subcommittee report its findings and recommendations back to the Committee by Wednesday, June 12, 2013; (f) the subcommittee shall meet at least once every two sitting weeks until such time as they have reported back to the Committee; (g) the subcommittee call witnesses including officials from the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Department of Justice to brief members on the laws, regulations and policies governing the political actions of the government, and that the Committee shall report to the House on the work of the subcommittee by Friday, June 14, 2013.

Debate arose thereon.

Peter Braid moved, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera .

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.